An ex-county clerk in Kentucky who drew nationwide attention for denying marriage licenses for same-sex couples is backin the news. 

Kim Davis is asking the Supreme Court to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same sex unions nationwide. 

Obergefell v. Hodges was issued in 2015. It officially recognized that queer Americans have a constitutional right to get married. 

Hundreds of thousands of people have been married in the 10 years since.

And also since then, Kim Davis has been fighting court battles over her refusal to grant licenses – citing her belief that she should get a religious exemption under the first amendment.

The Supreme Court will decide this fall if they want to consider Davis’ appeal – and experts are skeptical that they will do so. 

But what would a serious legal fight to overturn marriage equality look like? 

And are legal rights besides marriage at risk for LGBTQ Washingtonians? 

Guest:
Professor Alison Gash, Chair of the University of Oregon’s Department of Political Science. She’s also an academic expert in United States courts, sexuality, same-sex marriage, constitutional rights and public policy.

Related stories:
Supreme Court formally asked to overturn landmark same-sex marriage ruling - ABC News
Ten Years After Obergefell: Is Same-Sex Marriage Safe? - Washington Monthly
Alito’s Same-Sex Wedding Panic Threatens LGBTQ Rights - Washington Monthly

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

An ex-county clerk in Kentucky who drew nationwide attention for denying marriage licenses for same-sex couples is back in the news.&nbsp;
Kim Davis is asking the Supreme Court to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same sex unions nationwide. Obergefell v. Hodges was issued in 2015. It officially recognized that queer Americans have a constitutional right to get married.&nbsp;
Hundreds of thousands of people have been married in the 10 years since.
And also since then, Kim Davis has been fighting court battles over her refusal to grant licenses &ndash; citing her belief that she should get a religious exemption under the first amendment.
The Supreme Court will decide this fall if they want to consider Davis&rsquo; appeal &ndash; and experts are <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/12/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-equality-challenge">skeptical </a>that they will do so.&nbsp;
But what would a serious legal fight to overturn marriage equality look like?&nbsp;
And are legal rights besides marriage at risk for LGBTQ Washingtonians?&nbsp;
Guest:
<ul>
<li>Professor Alison Gash, Chair of the University of Oregon&rsquo;s Department of Political Science. She&rsquo;s also an academic expert in United States courts, sexuality, same-sex marriage, constitutional rights and public policy.</li>
</ul>
Related stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/supreme-court-formally-asked-overturn-landmark-same-sex/story?id=124465302">Supreme Court formally asked to overturn landmark same-sex marriage ruling - ABC News</a></li>
<li><a href="https://washingtonmonthly.com/2025/06/09/is-same-sex-marriage-safe-as-anniversary-approaches/">Ten Years After Obergefell: Is Same-Sex Marriage Safe? - Washington Monthly</a></li>
<li><a href="https://washingtonmonthly.com/2025/07/16/same-sex-wedding/">Alito&rsquo;s Same-Sex Wedding Panic Threatens LGBTQ Rights - Washington Monthly</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

A former Kentucky county clerk is making a long-shot bid to convince the Supreme Court to overturn its landmark ruling legalizing gay marriage. We'll talk about the future of LGBTQ rights before a conservative Supreme Court majority.

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