The United States Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a case aimed at overturning its landmark 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.
The conservative-dominated court, as usual, did not offer any explanation for its decision.
The case was filed by Kim Davis, a former county clerk in Kentucky who had refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Davis was ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to a gay couple she had denied a license.
With a 6-3 conservative majority, the Supreme Court had sparked concern among the LGBTQ community after striking down the constitutional right to abortion three years ago. Davis’s appeal had raised fears that the court might reconsider its same-sex marriage ruling. At least four votes were needed for the court to take up the case.
The Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group, praised the court’s refusal to hear the case. Davis had cited her Christian religious beliefs as the reason for denying the marriage licenses.
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“Today, love won again,” Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson said in a statement.
“When public officials take an oath to serve their communities, that promise extends to everyone —- including LGBTQ+ people,” Robinson said.
“The Supreme Court made clear today that refusing to respect the constitutional rights of others does not come without consequences.”
(AFP)