The LGBTQ+ community has historically had to fight for their rights to be acknowledged by the broader society. According to a 2022 report from the Center for American Progress, a progressive institute that aims to support Americans of all identities, about 50% of LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. report discrimination at work and up to 80% had to put in extra effort, such as hiding their sexuality, to attempt to avoid harassment or discrimination. In the past few years, some long-deserved rights have been granted—but they may once again be under threat. Demonstrating their support for the LGBTQ+ community at Poly, on November 9, 2025, Poly Prep students and faculty from all divisions gathered in the Legacy Gym for the annual Solidarity Week photo, standing together to form a rainbow flag with colored paper. However, just a day later, on November 10, the Supreme Court was set to announce whether it would hear a case from Kim Davis, a former clerk in Rowan County, Kentucky, seeking to repeal the same-sex marriage law. The Court ultimately refused to hear Davis’ case on that day. 

Many were not confident that the Supreme Court would end up denying Davis’ case, which “had roiled LGBTQ+ advocates who feared the conservative court might be ready to revisit the decade-old decision,” according to an article by John Fritze, a CNN reporter who covers the Supreme Court. Fritze also notes that some of the uncertainty was due to the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to repeal the 1973 law legalizing abortion, which proved that long-standing laws can be overturned. Another cause of concern was the political alignment of the court’s majority, which Fritze describes as “far different and far more conservative than the one that decided Obergefell [the case which nationally legalized same-sex marriage] in 2015.” In addition, the current Trump administration’s attacks on LGBTQ+ programming, such as restricting LGBTQ+ education, had placed many on high alert. 

While Davis’ case was rejected, it still managed to reach the country’s highest court, which suggested to Caleigh Forbes-Cockell, Assistant Director of Admissions Operations and one of the faculty advisors of Poly’s Upper School GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance) group, that LGBTQ+ rights are still under scrutiny on a national level, even though the same-sex marriage law has been in place since 2015. Forbes-Cockell explained that “even though this is a win in our community, I feel as well the fact that it went to the Supreme Court is really disheartening.” She added, “even though it went our way this time, there’s no guarantee that it will go our way next time.” 

Some reactions to the court’s decision align with Forbes-Cockell’s, such as that of Kevin Jennings, the CEO of Lambda Legal, which is the nation’s oldest and largest organization committed to protecting the civil rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Jennings stated on NBC News, “Today, the Supreme Court affirmed what we all know: marriage equality is the law of the land.” However, several other reactions conflict, such as those of Mathew Staver and the legal group he founded, Liberty Counsel. Liberty Counsel is a litigation group that identifies as Christian—like Kim Davis—and promotes Christian values through their actions. It represented Davis in her case. Staver, who is the chairman of the group, declared that “We will continue to work to overturn Obergefell. It is not a matter of if, but when the Supreme Court will overturn Obergefell.”

Maintaining awareness of the struggles faced by LGBTQ+ members of the Poly community through Solidarity Week activities helps ensure that all members of the Poly community are always supported and well-informed at school, regardless of anti-LGBTQ+ actions outside the community, mentioned James Megahan, Learning Support Specialist and another faculty leader of GSA. He explained that “when [marriage is something] that people, and that families rely on, [and it’s] perceived as being under threat, it can lead to a lot of uncertainty. It’s important to remain aware and vigilant.”