Today, Idaho House Republicans voted to request the overturning of Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that guarantees same-sex couples the freedom to marry in every state.
In response, Democratic leaders released the following statements:
Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Wintrow:
“For more than a decade, marriage equality has been the law of the land, and Idaho families have built their lives around that freedom and certainty. These are our neighbors, our friends, and our family members, and they deserve the same dignity, security, and respect as anyone else.
“Instead of doing the job Idahoans sent them to do, extremist House Republicans are choosing to attack settled rights and divide our communities. Reopening this issue will not lower costs, strengthen our schools, or help Idahoans get the health care they need. It is a cruel political distraction from the real issues facing working families.
“Idaho families deserve leaders who focus on real problems, defend basic freedoms, and treat every person with dignity. Idaho Democrats will continue to stand with LGBTQ+ Idahoans and fight any effort to take away their rights.”
House Democratic Leader Ilana Rubel:
“This vote exposes the central contradiction in today’s Republican Party. They claim to stand for freedom and limited government, yet they keep using government power to target LGBTQ+ Idahoans, strip away rights, and interfere in deeply personal decisions.
“House Republicans voted to put the marriages of same-sex couples back on the political chopping block. They voted to tell thousands of Idaho families that their relationships, their commitments, and their legal protections are still up for debate.
“The bill’s sponsor has claimed that the constitutional protection of same-sex marriage ‘debases’ marriage and is ‘abhorrent’ to Christians, Jews, and Muslims. That rhetoric is offensive and dangerous, and it has no place in a state where every person should be treated equally under the law.
“Idaho Republicans have abandoned any real commitment to small government. They should stop using their supermajority to police people’s private lives and target minority communities.”
###
Recent Comments