The U.S. Supreme Court declined to reconsider its 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, rejecting a challenge brought by a former Kentucky county clerk on Monday. The ruling effectively solidifies the right to same-sex marriage across the country.

The case stemmed from Kim Davis, a former county clerk in Rowan County, Kentucky, who was jailed in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Davis argued that her religious beliefs prevented her from complying with the Supreme Court's prior ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established the constitutional right to same-sex marriage.

Her legal challenge sought to overturn Obergefell, but the Supreme Court summarily rejected the petition without hearing oral arguments. This action signals the court's unwillingness to revisit the landmark decision, which had a profound impact on LGBTQ+ rights and marriage equality in the United States. The justices did not provide any explanation for their decision.

The 2015 Obergefell ruling found that the right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples under both the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses. This decision legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states, marking a significant milestone in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality.

While previous Supreme Court decisions have protected various rights for LGBTQ+ individuals, the Obergefell ruling remains a cornerstone of marriage equality law in the United States. The rejection of Davis’s challenge reinforces the continued validity and importance of this legal precedent.