The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to take up a new challenge to same-sex marriage, effectively leaving the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges decision in place and ensuring marriage equality remains the law of the land.

The Court’s decision, announced Monday, came as justices refused to hear a case that sought to revisit the 2015 ruling that guaranteed same-sex couples the constitutional right to marry. By declining the appeal, the justices allowed lower court rulings to stand—preserving marriage rights for millions of LGBTQ+ Americans and reaffirming nearly a decade of legal precedent.

The challenge had been closely watched by equality advocates, who feared that a more conservative-leaning court could threaten progress made under Obergefell. Instead, the Court’s refusal to reopen the issue sends a quiet but powerful signal: the nation’s highest court is not interested in turning back the clock on marriage equality.

“This is a relief, but it’s also a reminder that our rights can never be taken for granted,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, in a statement reacting to the news. “We must continue to protect and defend the freedoms that LGBTQ+ Americans have fought for—and won.”

Marriage equality has now been legal nationwide for more than eight years, reshaping the social and legal landscape for same-sex couples across the country. While public support for marriage equality has risen sharply in that time—with polls showing roughly 70% of Americans in favor—advocates note that anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric remain persistent challenges in many states.

President Joe Biden, who championed the Respect for Marriage Act signed into law in 2022, has also emphasized the importance of safeguarding rights recognized by Obergefell. That federal law requires states to recognize all legal marriages, regardless of the couple’s gender, even if future court rulings were to change the precedent.

For now, the Supreme Court’s decision leaves Obergefell untouched—and provides a moment of reassurance for the LGBTQ+ community amid growing concern over rollbacks to other civil rights.

“Equality is not negotiable,” said one activist outside the Court. “This ruling is more than a legal victory. It’s a reminder that love still wins.”