Idaho Lawmakers Want To Strip Away Marriage Rights — Here’s What You Need To Know
An Idaho House committee is taking steps to challenge marriage equality in the USA. In a move that could ripple across the nation, a proposal has been introduced urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its landmark 2015 decision legalising same-sex marriage.
According to the Idaho Statesman, this effort is spearheaded by Rep. Heather Scott, a Republican lawmaker from Blanchard, who wants to bring back Idaho’s ban on same-sex unions by appealing to what she calls the “natural definition of marriage.”
But what exactly does this mean, and why now?
Scott’s resolution is a symbolic statement rather than a law. It claims that the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision, a 5-4 ruling that gave same-sex couples across the U.S. the right to marry, was an overreach of federal authority. Scott is asking the Supreme Court to let individual states decide who can and can’t marry. This proposal has sparked outrage among advocates of personal freedom and equality, with many viewing it as a step backward.
The backdrop to this fight is a Supreme Court that has shifted further to the right in recent years, with three justices appointed by former President Donald Trump. Justice Clarence Thomas, in particular, has previously hinted at wanting to revisit the Obergefell decision.
How Do Idahoans Feel?
Public opinion in Idaho paints a divided picture. A 2022 poll conducted by the Idaho Statesman found that nearly half of respondents supported marriage equality, while 37% opposed it, and 14% remained unsure. These numbers reflect a state still grappling with the rapid cultural shifts of the last two decades.
It’s worth noting that Idaho’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage – approved by voters in 2006 – is still technically in place, even though it was rendered unenforceable by federal courts in 2014.
Nationally, support for marriage equality has grown, but the fight in Idaho highlights how fragile these rights can be. Congress recognised this vulnerability when it passed the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022, ensuring that states must honour same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. Even so, not every Idaho representative supported the bill.
On the same day as this resolution moved forward, Idaho lawmakers introduced another proposal praising Boise State University’s women’s volleyball team. The team had forfeited matches against a California school with a transgender athlete on its roster, sparking heated debate. Gov. Brad Little and others commended their stance against transgender participation, reflecting a broader national conversation about inclusion in sports.
The House State Affairs Committee has advanced Scott’s resolution, and a public hearing will follow. If the resolution gains traction, it could be sent to the Supreme Court, though its symbolic nature means it won’t have legal force. Nevertheless, it raises serious questions: Are we seeing the groundwork for larger efforts to dismantle marriage equality? How far will state lawmakers go to influence personal freedoms?
For now, the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies are left waiting, watching, and organising. While the push to roll back rights is troubling, it’s also a stark reminder of how much work is still needed to protect progress and ensure equality for all.
