Yara Damascena was totally freaking out on her wedding day, you know? Super excited, but also super nervous. She wasn’t really into being the center of attention or anything like that. But when she laid eyes on her soon-to-be wife, Iliana, everything else – the people, the camera, the nerves – just faded away. “I just looked at her,” Yara recalls, talking about the moment she strolled down the aisle. “I didn’t even see anyone there, to be honest. It felt like it was just me and her.”
So, like, Obergefell v. Hodges, the big Supreme Court case that said same-sex marriage is cool, is turning 10 in June. Over two-thirds of Americans are totally down with marriage equality. But one of the lawyers who argued the case says it’s like having a “split screen” with all the drama happening during the Trump era.
The Damascenas are head over heels in love, but they decided to tie the knot for more than just love. They were worried they might lose their right to get married under the Trump administration. And there are other same-sex couples out there making the same move because they feel like time is running out.
With Obergefell v. Hodges hitting the double digits in June, LGBTQ+ couples are feeling a bit torn. On one side, most Americans are all for same-sex marriage. On the other side, things feel a bit shaky. Mary Bonauto, one of the lawyers in the Obergefell case, says it’s like keeping an eye on two different things at once. On one hand, the courts are all about the marriage equality thing. But on the other hand, with President Trump in the mix, everything feels up in the air.
You got Jim Obergefell, the guy who was all about getting same-sex marriage legalized nationwide, getting support from peeps who are all about the ruling at the Texas Capitol. President Trump hasn’t said he wants to get rid of the ruling. But this year, GOP folks in six states have been pushing for the Supreme Court to take another look at Obergefell. It’s mostly just a show of force, but it’s making a statement for sure.
Since 2017, more than two-thirds of Americans have been on board with LGBTQ+ couples getting hitched, according to Gallup. Back in 1996, it was only a quarter of folks who were cool with it. That’s a huge shift, man. But with a conservative Supreme Court now thanks to Trump, and his possible comeback, LGBTQ+ rights are a bit up in the air. One of the Supreme Court justices even said he wants to revisit Obergefell.
When the Supreme Court nixed Roe v. Wade in 2022, Justice Clarence Thomas was all about bringing up Obergefell too. He thinks they should rethink a bunch of cases, including Obergefell. Some states are all about passing resolutions to show they ain’t down with Obergefell, while others are trying to make laws to protect same-sex marriage.
But LGBTQ+ couples aren’t just sitting around waiting for things to go south. There’ve been a bunch of quickie weddings and group elopements happening. Folks are feeling the pressure and just want to make it official before anything changes. It’s like a race against time, you know?
Yara and Iliana tied the knot with the help of a bunch of wedding vendors in New England who were all about supporting LGBTQ+ couples during the Trump era. They even got to use a venue for free. It felt like they weren’t alone, like there were people out there looking out for them. Yara was moved to tears by all the kindness.
The Damascenas had to move fast with wedding planning once they found out about Trump’s comeback. They skipped a bunch of traditions and just went for it. They’re Latina, they’re women, they’re gay – all the stuff Trump isn’t too keen on. But they didn’t let that stop them from saying “I do.”
Yara wishes she could’ve gone wedding dress shopping with her mom in Brazil. Iliana wanted more friends and family at the wedding. But at the end of the day, they’re happy. They’re focusing on building a life together and maybe starting a family. A bigger wedding in Brazil might be in the cards, so Yara’s family can be there too.
No matter how things went down, all the stress and craziness, they’re just happy to have each other. Love wins, right?
