With a 31-16 verification vote, Senate lawmakers today killed House Concurrent Resolution 3013, legislation that would have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse its decade-old ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.
“Rejecting HCR 3013 was the right thing to do. This resolution was a bigoted and unpopular view on same-sex marriage and an affront to queer people in our state,” said Cody Schuler, ACLU of North Dakota advocacy manager. “We’re disappointed, however, that because of the blind vote, North Dakotans will not be able to see how their senators voted. Advocating for the reversal of Obergefell v. Hodges disregards the progress made toward inclusivity and equal rights and undermines the pluralistic and inclusive fabric of our society, and our elected leaders need to be accountable to their constituents with their votes.”
That this resolution was even up for debate in the North Dakota Legislature was disappointing.
“The hateful and bigoted comments made by some of our elected leaders are antithetical to the core of North Dakotan and American values of liberty and justice for all people,” Schuler said. “North Dakota has many real, complex problems that the legislature should be addressing. Our legislators shouldn’t be wasting time on toothless virtue-signaling. Let’s focus on policies that uphold the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of their sexual orientation.”
About the ACLU of North Dakota
The American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of North Dakota is part of a three-state chapter that also includes South Dakota and Wyoming. The team in North Dakota is supported by staff in those states.
The ACLU believes freedoms of press, speech, assembly and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy, are fundamental to a free people. In addition, the ACLU seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups traditionally denied their rights, including people of color, women and LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit communities. The ACLU of North Dakota carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at the state and local level, and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for the people of North Dakota.
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