Hillary Clinton Warns SCOTUS "Will Do to Gay Marriage What They Did to Abortion”

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has issued a pointed warning to the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, voicing concern that the current U.S. Supreme Court could overturn the landmark 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Speaking in a televised interview with commentator Jessica Tarlov, Clinton drew a direct parallel to the Court’s 2022 decision that reversed Roe v. Wade, ending federal protections for abortion rights and returning the issue to individual states.

“My prediction is they will do to gay marriage what they did to abortion. They will send it back to the states,” Clinton stated, urging couples in committed same-sex relationships to consider marrying while the legal framework remains intact at the federal level. “Anybody in a committed relationship out there in the LGBTQ community, you ought to consider getting married,” she said, highlighting the urgency many advocates feel in the current legal environment .

Clinton’s comments come as the Supreme Court is reportedly considering cases that could affect the reach or validity of Obergefell v. Hodges, the decision that made marriage equality the law of the land. Advocates and legal experts warn that, if the Court were to overturn Obergefell, the legal authority to define marriage could revert to individual states, many of which have statutes or constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage still on the books .

The aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, offers a stark example of how quickly federal rights can be dismantled, resulting in a patchwork of state laws that leave millions without access to previously guaranteed protections. “People think that marriage equality is a fait accompli,” said Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza, a former Democratic National Committee spokeswoman and board member of LPAC. “They’re wrong—dangerously wrong,” she told TIME .

If Obergefell were overturned, legal recognition of marriages for same-sex couples could disappear in numerous states, with ripple effects on adoption rights, parental recognition, healthcare decisions, and financial protections for LGBTQ+ families. Many states never repealed pre-Obergefell bans, meaning a Supreme Court reversal would instantly strip marriage rights in those jurisdictions .

Additionally, federal anti-discrimination rules and regulations that rely on the existence of legal same-sex marriage could be invalidated or face new legal challenges, compounding the effect on LGBTQ+ rights nationwide .

Clinton’s warning has galvanized LGBTQ+ organizations and allies, who are calling for renewed vigilance and advocacy. Activists emphasize the importance of not taking federal marriage equality protections for granted and urge community members to stay informed and engaged as the legal landscape evolves.

Social media reactions underscore widespread anxiety and a sense of déjà vu, drawing direct connections to the rapid rollback of abortion rights in many states following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision. On her own Instagram account, Clinton noted the anniversary of the Dobbs decision, highlighting the speed with which the Supreme Court’s composition can reshape decades of civil rights progress .

The Respect for Marriage Act, signed into law in 2022, repealed the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and required states to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. However, it does not itself guarantee the right to marry in all states if Obergefell were overturned, and many legal scholars point to loopholes that could allow states to restrict access or refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples .

Clinton’s record on LGBTQ+ issues has evolved over her career. While she initially supported civil unions over marriage equality in the early 2000s, she became a prominent advocate for full marriage rights in the years leading up to and following the Obergefell decision .

As the Supreme Court’s future docket takes shape, LGBTQ+ legal organizations are closely monitoring any cases that could affect marriage rights. Advocacy groups encourage allies to support legislative efforts to further codify marriage equality and to participate in grassroots efforts to protect LGBTQ+ families in states where rights may be most at risk.

The path forward, advocates warn, will require both vigilance and resilience from the LGBTQ+ community and its supporters. With the Supreme Court’s direction uncertain, many are heeding Clinton’s call to act now and prepare for the possibility of another major shift in American civil rights law.