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Republican-controlled states lay the groundwork for undoing marriage equality

Lawmakers in at least nine US states have introduced measures to erode same-sex marriage laws since Donald Trump’s return to office.

Five of the states have directly urged the Supreme Court to overturn its decision to legalise gay marriage in 2015, and Republican-controlled houses in Idaho, Michigan and North Dakota have passed their respective measures.

A further four states have introduced legislation that would create a category of marriage called a “covenant marriage” which could only take place between a man and a woman.

The measures are not binding but they make clear that if the Supreme Court decision were overturned, marriage equality in those states would be under threat.

Given the make up of the Supreme Court and the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022, this pitchrolling by opponents of gay marriage may prove timely.


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