At KET.brussels, we are closely following the situation in the United States, where marriage equality is now at risk. In a shocking turn of events, five U.S. states—Michigan, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota—have introduced resolutions urging the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
Leading the charge is Michigan State Representative Joshua Schriver, a far-right politician who describes himself as “Michigan’s most conservative state representative.” He recently introduced a resolution titled the Resolution to Restore Marriage, claiming that Obergefell is “at odds with the sanctity of marriage, the Michigan Constitution, and the principles upon which the country was established.” He also argues that the ruling has led to “increased instances of religious persecution”. His resolution mirrors similar efforts in Idaho and North Dakota, both of which have already passed similar measures in their state legislatures.
Meanwhile, four other states—Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas—are taking a different approach by introducing a new legal category called “covenant marriage”, which would be exclusively for heterosexual couples and impose stricter rules, such as mandatory premarital counseling and restrictions on divorce.
For us in Brussels, this is a stark reminder that even fundamental rights like marriage equality can come under attack, even in places where they once seemed secure. At KET.brussels, we stand in solidarity with our queer siblings in the U.S. Their fight is our fight. If marriage equality is at risk in one of the world’s most powerful democracies, we must remain vigilant everywhere.
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