“It is unconscionable, not to mention now illegal, that any government official could continue to deny universal access and recognition to gay and lesbian couples and their families.”
Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and a leading advocate for LGBT rights in Congress, released the following statement responding to state officials, including Texas AG Ken Paxton and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who are refusing to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges legalizing same-sex marriage:
“On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that state governments can no longer refuse same-sex couples marriage licenses, meaning that full equality and protection should be granted to all Americans. This is not a matter of opinion -- our country’s highest court has determined that laws which deprive citizens of equal liberty are in violation of the 14th Amendment and are therefore unconstitutional.
“It is unconscionable, not to mention now illegal, that any government official could continue to deny universal access and recognition to gay and lesbian couples and their families. As Justice Warren asserted in Loving v. Virginia, marriage is a civil right “fundamental to our very existence and survival,” and the Supreme Court has now ruled twice that equality in same-sex marriage is guaranteed by our Constitution.
“Our country’s public officials must carry out their duties according to the law. What is being advocated when state or local officials are encouraged to ignore the laws and deny citizens their rights if they have any religious objection is pure lawlessness and anarchy.
“The struggle for equality is one that has been long and hard fought in delivering justice for millions of Americans. The notion that public officials can pick and choose which duties to carry out, or which rights to recognize and for whom, is not only false; it is a violation of our laws, our system of justice, and our Constitution.”