In conservative states across the United States, Republican lawmakers have been advancing a wide range of legislative measures aimed at curtailing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly focusing on same-sex marriages. Their ultimate goal appears to be securing a ruling from the Supreme Court that would undermine federal protection of these rights.
The recent spate of bills targeting same-sex marriage has emerged in the context of a potential second term for Donald Trump, an administration which has pursued more aggressive stances against the LGBTQ+ community, demonstrated through a series of executive orders that are hostile towards various aspects of these communities’ rights.
Numerous Republican legislators in these red states have both vocally supported and introduced bills designed to challenge existing rights, creating deep-seated concerns among both the LGBTQ+ community and civil rights organizations with regard to the social and political ramifications of these initiatives.
In Oklahoma, for example, Republican Senator Dusty Deevers introduced a series of bills on the day after Trump’s inauguration to target various aspects of the LGBTQ+ community. Among these was the so-called “Promote Child Thriving Act,” which would grant tax credits to traditional nuclear families, effectively penalizing non-traditional family structures.
Similarly, in Idaho, Republican lawmakers have called for the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Heated debates on the issue, with some lawmakers arguing that a “traditional” definition of marriage should be restored, have underscored the political polarization surrounding these measures.
The ACLU and various Democratic lawmakers across the states have denounced these efforts, highlighting that these legislative actions not only threaten core civil rights but also serve to distract from more pressing economic and social issues impacting constituents. The introduction of such bills is viewed as part of a broader strategy to incrementally erode the legal recognition of same-sex marriages in the United States.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/03/republicans-same-sex-marriage
