Marriage equality architect Evan Wolfson shares the strategy we need in the battle for democracy.
Evan Wolfson has been a driving force behind marriage equality for decades, shaping the movement that led to the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. Long before the fight made headlines, he was making the case—literally—writing his Harvard Law School thesis on same-sex marriage in 1983 and later helping to launch the modern movement through the groundbreaking Hawaii marriage case in the ’90s.
As the founder of Freedom to Marry, Wolfson played a key role in shifting public opinion and legal strategy, earning a spot on Time magazine’s 2004 “100 Most Influential People” list. His impact was further cemented in 2025 when President Joe Biden awarded him the Presidential Citizens Medal for his relentless advocacy. And Wolfson isn’t slowing down—he continues to advise human rights initiatives worldwide. Here, he shares his strategy for protecting marriage equality, defending democracy, and keeping hope alive.
Don’t wallow—take action. Setbacks are inevitable, but dwelling on worst-case scenarios only hinders progress. “Stay informed and then focus on the pathway for moving forward. Don’t surrender in advance, don’t give up, and don’t make things worse than they are by assuming the worst. Take action, ideally together with or in solidarity with others. Things can change. We can change them.”
Marriage equality is likely secure. “While anything can happen, I don’t think it [is] terribly likely that there are five votes on the Supreme Court to overturn our win,” says Wolfson.
The fight is more significant than marriage. The current wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is part of a broader attack on democracy, pluralism, and civil rights. Defending marriage equality means fighting for all marginalized communities. “We must reclaim political power, boost education in civics and cooperation, elect people who make government work for all Americans, and continue to tell our stories and increase empathy and respect across differences,” says Wolfson.
“But now our big challenge is not the ‘gay’ persuasion lift, it’s the preserving of the rule of law.”
Lessons from the marriage equality movement still apply. Change takes time, strategy, and perseverance. Activists should focus on coalition-building, combating misinformation, and engaging those who are open to persuasion. “We should not treat people who agree with us 80 percent as our enemies, but bring them along, mobilizing supporters and engaging the reachable but not yet reached,” explains Wolfson. “The new challenge we must also tackle is how to target and reach the people we need to move on a fragmented and siloed information—and disinformation—landscape.”
Flipping political power is the most impactful action. Winning key elections at all levels—Congress, state legislatures, and the White House—is critical to safeguarding progress and restoring protections. “Then [we can] enact structural reform and deliver good government, while holding the Trump-Musk-Republican saboteurs accountable,” he continues.
Hope is just as important as strategy. “We need to convey to others, particularly young people, that even in dark moments, change is possible,” says Wolfson. “We’ve proved that before.” Though history has shown that change is possible, he adds that “The work is never done.”
*This feature was originally published in Love Inc.'s V10 print issue. Find a retailer near you.
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