Some wedding venues, photographers and planners are offering free services to same-sex couples before Inauguration Day.
Summary
In response to Donald Trump’s re-election, some same-sex couples, like Ben Nelson and Adam Weinberger, are accelerating plans to marry, fearing potential rollbacks of LGBTQ rights.
Concerns stem from the Supreme Court’s 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade and past statements from conservative justices suggesting interest in revisiting the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.
While the Respect for Marriage Act offers federal safeguards, uncertainty persists.
LGBTQ-friendly businesses are stepping up to support couples, but fears of broader restrictions, including on parenting options, remain widespread among the community.
My husband and I did this after the Dobbs decision came down and cited 'future reconsiderations' for Casey and Obergefell. Called a handful of friends and family and told them to meet us at the courthouse in two weeks.
Now, we are bracing to help people who may have to travel to our blue state to get married, just like they had to 15-ish years ago. We may not be able to leave, but we have some means to help others, so we are doing what we can.
In all seriousness, I got it while I was stationed down in Georgia in the army. Your options to get married were to go in front of a judge (good luck with that), or pay a "minister" anywhere from 100-250 or whatever to ask you whether or not you knew each other, if you were in love, and whether or not you were getting married just for tax purposes.
I thought that was bullshit, so I registered with the church of the latter day dude and married people for the cost of a lunch or a six pack of decent beer.
Thank you! We are on the opposite coast, but we are working with ministers like yourself to make sure we have plenty of options for people to choose from. Best of luck over the next years, and here's to many more happy weddings!