The United States Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that same-sex couples had the right to marry under the United States Constitution.

Three North Carolina Republicans filed a bill on Tuesday saying the nation’s high court “overstepped its constitutional bounds” when making that decision. The new bill says “Marriages between persons of the same gender not valid.” House Bill 780 is titled the “Uphold Historic Marriage Act.” The bill says the North Carolina General Assembly would “declare” the 2015 ruling “null and void in the State of North Carolina.”

The proposal contends that “laws concerning marriage are for each state to establish and maintain.” That line of thinking would reinstitute North Carolina’s Amendment One banning same-sex marriage, which passed on the primary ballot of the 2012 election. That amendment was then found unconstitutional in October 2014.

Beyond contending the 2015 decision goes beyond the authority of the law, the bill says the court ruling over same-sex marriage “exceeds the authority of the court relative to the decree of Almighty God.” The bill then quotes a verse from the English Standard Version of the Christian Bible.

The proposal was quickly lambasted once it was filed on Tuesday.

North Carolina Democratic Governor Roy Cooper tweeted: “This bill is wrong. We need more LGBT protections, not fewer.”

North Carolina Democratic Party chair Wayne Goodwin issued a statement on Tuesday:

“Republicans in the General Assembly seem to have a special talent for embarrassing themselves and our state. Instead of wasting their time on hateful, discriminatory and clearly unconstitutional legislation, they should be working with Governor Cooper to improve our schools and cut taxes for the middle class.”

American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina policy director Sarah Gillooly also issued a statement:

“Marriage equality is the law of the land in North Carolina and the entire nation, no matter what half-baked legal theories anti-LGBT lawmakers try to put forward. This bill is absurd, unconstitutional and further proof that some North Carolina legislators remain committed to discriminating against LGBT people and their families. North Carolina lawmakers cannot defy the U.S. Supreme Court based on their extreme personal views.”

The North Carolina Republican Party and legislative leadership had not issued statements on the legislation as of this posting.

The bill is unlikely to move forward. Two of the three legislators who sponsored HB780 also filed a bill earlier this year seeking to remove the provision from North Carolina’s constitution that would prevent the state from seceding.

Related Stories
‹
Federal Judge Dismisses Challenge to North Carolina Same-Sex Marriage Law
A federal judge has dismissed a challenge to a North Carolina law that allows magistrates to refuse to marry same-sex couples by citing religious beliefs. According to the AP, a judge in Asheville ruled that a lawsuit brought by three North Carolina couples, two same-sex couples and one interracial couple, lacked evidence showing they were harmed directly […]
Good Use of our Money?
I’m going to share my perplexity with you.          Let’s just say there’s already a law against something.  Let’s also say money is tight.  Schools need money, social programs need money (because more people need social programs)… I think we can all […]
'Worried For Our Future': Authors React to Removal Attempt of LGBTQ+ Books from CHCCS Elementary Libraries
North Carolina legislators are pushing to remove 63 LGBTQ-themed books from CHCCS elementary schools, saying they violate state law for being available in libraries.
On the Porch: Deana Joy - Child Abuse in NC
This Week: Deana Joy has spent her career working in the nonprofit sector with victims of crime. She began by working with victims of sexual violence then, in 2006, she was promoted to Executive Director of a local Children’s Advocacy and Sexual Assault Center. In 2014, Deana began working as the CEO of Children’s Advocacy Centers of North Carolina, the state chapter for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs). In 2017, Deana became a national accreditation site reviewer for National Children’s Alliance, the accrediting body of Children’s Advocacy Centers. Deana currently serves as the Chair of the Children’s Justice Act for the Governor's Crime Commission and is on the NC Human Trafficking Commission, the NCDHHS Safety Design Team, the central region Citizen Review Panel, and the statewide Mass Violence Committee.
Morinaga Celebrates Completed Mebane Expansion and 'Sweet Partnership' With North Carolina, Orange County
The Japanese candy company Morinaga held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday to celebrate the opening of its expansion Hi-Chew plant in Mebane.
North Carolina’s Electoral Future May Hinge on Rural Black Voters Who Feel Ignored by Democrats
Roughly 4 in 10 Black voters in North Carolina’s last presidential election said they live in small towns or rural communities.
North Carolina Supreme Court Throws Out Longtime Suit Over Education Funding
On Thursday, the North Carolina Supreme Court threw out longtime Leandro Case ruling and litigation over education funding in the state.
North Carolina’s Photo Voter ID Mandate Can Continue as a Judge Upholds the Law
North Carolina’s photo voter identification law was upheld on Thursday, as a federal judge set aside arguments by civil rights groups.
'Keeping People Safe': North Carolina's Office of Violence Prevention Reaches 3-Year Anniversary
North Carolina's Office of Violence Prevention recently surpassed its three-year anniversary, continuing to use public health approaches to address the issue of gun violence.
Democrat Roy Cooper Needs to Defy North Carolina History to Keep Winning Streak Alive in Senate Race
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON and BILL BARROW RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina does not mind electing Democrats as governor, but it is a different matter when it comes to sending them to the U.S. Senate. Roy Cooper, who led the state for two terms, is trying to change that with a campaign that could […]
›