Decade After Supreme Court Ruling, Partisan Divide on Same-Sex Marriage Hits Record High

A decade after the Supreme Court’s historic Obergefell v. Hodges ruling legalized same-sex marriage across the United States, a stark partisan divide has emerged in public opinion, revealing deeper societal fault lines. Today, 68% of Americans support same-sex marriage, a figure that’s held steady in recent years. Yet, beneath this surface stability lies a growing chasm between political affiliations that’s impossible to ignore.

Back in 2015, when the Supreme Court declared marriage a fundamental right for same-sex couples under the Fourteenth Amendment, 60% of Americans were already on board. Fast forward to now, and Democratic support has soared to a record high of 88%, with independents not far behind at 76%. But here’s the kicker: Republican backing has plummeted to just 41%, a sharp drop from 55% earlier this decade and the lowest since the landmark ruling. This isn’t just a difference of opinion—it’s a full-blown ideological rift.

The divide doesn’t stop at marriage. When it comes to viewing gay and lesbian relationships as morally acceptable, 86% of Democrats and 69% of independents say yes, while only 38% of Republicans agree, marking their lowest level of acceptance in over a decade. These numbers aren’t just stats; they reflect a nation wrestling with its values in real time.

Meanwhile, the political and cultural battle over this issue continues to heat up. Some conservative voices, including Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, have openly suggested revisiting the 2015 decision. Certain state lawmakers and even the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the country, have echoed this call, pushing for the ruling to be overturned. It’s a reminder that legal victories don’t always translate to cultural consensus.

What we’re seeing is more than a policy debate—it’s a mirror to our polarized times. As the nation marks ten years since same-sex marriage became the law of the land, with over 750,000 couples now wed, the question remains: can we bridge this divide, or are we destined to keep drawing battle lines?