HJM1 passes Idaho House of Representatives 46-24
BOISE (Jan. 27, 2025) — A joint memorial to ask the United States Supreme Court to overturn marriage equality – the law of the land since 2015 – passed the Idaho House of Representatives 46-24 during the 11 a.m. floor session today.
“This is a mean-spirited, divisive, and wasteful piece of legislation,” said House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel. “Instead of focusing on affordable housing or helping Idahoans manage the impact of inflation, GOP politicians are using their supermajority power to bully a small number of people who simply want the freedom to marry whom they love and to live in peace. Our legislature must get out of the business of persecuting its own citizens.”
Rep. Todd Achilles spoke during the floor debate on the matter, countering the notion that this memorial is a states’ rights issue.
“This memorial is not about states’ rights – it’s the opposite. It calls upon the Supreme Court to rule that marriage must be between a man and a woman, trampling the rights of states that protect marriage equality,” he said. “This is the very definition of government overreach.”
Representative John Gannon added, “What this is about for me is freedom. The partner you choose is not the government’s choice nor should it be. This memorial flies in the face of freedom and should be rejected.”
Americans overwhelmingly support same sex marriage: 71% approved of it in a 2023 Gallup poll, a 27% increase since 1996 and 42% in 2006 (Gallup, 6/5/23). A 2022 Idaho Statesman poll found only 37% of Idahoans opposed same-sex marriage.
Of the emails submitted to the State Affairs Committee concerning HJM1, 99% were opposed to the memorial.