Bismarck, ND (trfnews.i234.me) — In a highly controversial decision, North Dakota House lawmakers have voted in favor of a resolution urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its ruling on same-sex marriage rights.
The resolution, which does not change any laws directly, is intended to send a strong message to the Supreme Court that North Dakota opposes the 2015 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.
Lawmaker Pushback & LGBTQ Response
Representative Austin Foss, who married his husband just a year ago, expressed deep concerns about the resolution.
“We have skin as North Dakotans. And we have every right to be here as everyone else,” Foss stated.
Foss, who met his husband while studying architecture at NDSU, fears this move signals that LGBTQ individuals are unwelcome in North Dakota.
On the other side, Representative Bill Tveit defended the resolution, arguing that marriage should remain solely between a man and a woman. Tveit also suggested that some Supreme Court justices who supported same-sex marriage have officiated LGBTQ weddings, implying a conflict of interest.
What Happens Next?
With the House passing the resolution, it now moves to the Senate. If approved there, it will be formally sent to the U.S. Supreme Court, urging justices to reconsider the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalized same-sex marriage across the country.
Foss emphasized the broader implications of the resolution:
“This resolution is a message. It’s a message to the world that North Dakota, if you’re like me, you’re not welcome here.”
No Comment from Bill Tveit
We reached out to Representative Bill Tveit for an interview regarding his stance on the resolution, but he declined to comment.
This is a developing story. Stay with TRF News for further updates.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRF News