In contemporary politics, the issue of same-sex marriage remains a point of contention in the United States. While the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges in a 5-4 decision on June 26th, 2015 that same sex marriage was legal across the union, many activists in the LGBTQ community seek further legal actions when it comes to matrimonial affairs. In several instances in recent years, members of the LGBTQ community have taken legal actions against businessowners who refused to provide services in relation to marriages due to religious beliefs. While the current Supreme Court has been defensive of the first amendment right to religious freedom, some reverent individuals have taken the initiative and utilized the legal system to plead their case. In 2023, a farming family near Lansing, Michigan won a victory in the fight for religious freedom, emerging victorious in a lawsuit.
The suit was a culmination of a six year legal affair. In 2017, Steve Tennes, the owner of Country Mill Farms, was banned from selling his products at a Lansing farmers market after stating he would not provide services for same-sex weddings on his property. Tennes is a devout Catholic, and felt he was profiled by municipal politicians after a post on Facebook stated his adherence to the Catholic Churches positions on marriage. The city stated this decision was in violation of the municipality’s discrimination laws. After the prolonged lawsuit, a federal judge in the Western District of Michigan who presided over the case stated the city could not force Tennes and his family members to do so.
While the Judicial victory was a win for free speech and religious freedom, it appears toxic leftist ideologies are continuing to be spread amongst the American youth through higher education. A recent report alleges that most U.S. colleges require “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” courses to graduate. These courses are often utilized to spread Marxist ideologies like Critical Race Theory.
