10 Years After Obergefell: Civitas Continues the Fight for Marriage Equality
Civitas Public Affairs Group was born out of the multi-year, bipartisan fight to win marriage for same-sex couples nationwide, with most of the firm’s leads having played a crucial role in the effort.
In this tumultuous political environment, where long-established rights are being reconsidered, Civitas continues to drive efforts to defend civil rights, including preserving the freedom to marry.
As we mark the 10-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Obergefell ruling, which secured marriage equality nationwide, we’re highlighting in the media that support for the freedom to marry is stronger than ever and that the vast majority of Americans are fully onboard. At Civitas, we’re placing special emphasis on making the case to conservatives, who are instrumental in protecting the national court ruling should another case reach the Supreme Court. That’s why we’re grounding our message in fresh data, and the numbers are clear.
New Polling Indicates Majority Support, Including Among Republicans
Centerline Liberties, chaired by Civitas principal James Dozier, along with Civitas client Project Right Side, released a new poll showing broad, bipartisan, and consistent support for marriage equality. The poll was completed by three Republican polling firms. Topline numbers include:
- 72% of all voters believe that same-sex couples should have the right to marry.
- 68% of all voters approve of the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision.
- 73% of all voters support the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA), the 2022 bipartisan law codifying marriage equality into law.
- A clear majority of Republicans, 56%, support same sex marriage.
The results were rolled out in a high-profile op-ed in The New York Times by pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson, who noted that Republican voters show little desire to interfere in others’ lives and are not actively seeking to roll back same-sex marriage rights.
Tracking Demographic Growth Among Married Same-Sex Couples Since Obergefell
Beyond polling, the impact of the Obergefell case is deeply visible in the lives and families of same-sex couples across the country. A new report from the Williams Institute at UCLA Law School, Married Same-Sex Couples in the United States on the 10th Anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, found that there are now 823,000 married same-sex couples in the U.S., raising 300,000 children. That’s more than double the number of married same-sex couples in June 2015 when Obergefell was decided. The ruling has had the most profound impact in the South and Midwest, where the 13 states without marriage equality at the time of the ruling are located. This new data was featured in the Washington Post story Gay marriages have doubled in 10 years since Supreme Court ruling.
These numbers aren’t just statistics, they reflect real progress, real families, and real lives. As Civitas continues to preserve the right to marry, we have organized an event in Birmingham, Alabama, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Obergefell. The event, “10 Years of the Freedom to Marry: Love Will Always Win” features remarks from Alabama elected officials, leaders in the marriage movement in the South and families whose lives were changed by this decision.
As part of its ongoing effort to highlight the life-changing impact of the Obergefell decision, Civitas helped place stories and op-eds that share what marriage has meant to couples and families across the country. These include the following:
Louisville Courier Journal
We're grateful for our Supreme Court same-sex marriage win. The work isn't over.
Randy Johnson & Paul Campion (Kentucky)
Dallas Morning News
Love is love: the fight for marriage equality continues
Mark Phariss & Vic Holmes (Texas)
Tampa Bay Times
We’re a gay Tampa couple. Here’s what same-sex marriage has meant to us
Ryan Sullivan & Nicholas Catania (Florida)
The Tennessean
Obergefell v. Hodges didn't just allow gay marriage. It gave me security.
Bryan Gitschlag (Tennessee)
Cardinal & Pine
A North Carolina woman on love and loss 10 years after Obergefell cleared same-sex marriage
Nancy Willow (North Carolina)
As we mark this milestone, Civitas remains committed to ensuring the freedom to marry is not only protected, but never seriously questioned again. The next decade of progress begins now, as reflected in this CBS New York interview, where I speak about the profound impact of the Obergefell ruling and the ongoing importance of marriage equality protections.
If you want to learn more about how Civitas supports philanthropists, thought leaders, and not-for-profits to advance bipartisan policy solutions, reach out to us at partnerships@orchestraco.com.
