California, Colorado and Hawaii will soon allow their residents to vote on ballot measures that would remove language from their state constitutions prohibiting same-sex marriage.
The landmark 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, guaranteeing same-sex couples across the country the right to marry, makes these state bans unenforceable.
However, these ballot measures seek to proactively protect these marriage rights should Obergefell ever be overturned.
Without Obergefell, there is federal legislation that would keep same-sex marriage rights mostly, but not entirely, intact: the Respect for Marriage Act.
It’s a personal issue for LGBTQ couples who had to navigate a time when same-sex marriage wasn’t legal or straightforward.
Persons:
Roe, Wade, Hodges, Paul Smith, Lawrence, Dobbs, “ We’ve, ”, don’t, ” Smith, Clarence Thomas ’, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Erin Schaff, Griswold, ” Thomas, Alito, Donald Trump, Mary Bonauto, Obergefell, ” Bonauto, Smith, Joe Biden, Bonauto, there’s, …, “, —, ” Susy Bates, It’s
Organizations:
. Texas, Jackson, Health Organization, . Connecticut, Republican, Movement Advancement
Locations:
California , Colorado, Hawaii, Georgetown, ., Washington, Lawrence, New York