Republican Ted Cruz files anti-gay marriage bills ahead of Supreme Court case
Republican Presidential wannabe Ted Cruz is reportedly attempting to halt the progress of same-sex marriage cases – just days ahead of a Supreme Court hearing on the issue.
The highest court in the United States is set to hear arguments from next Monday, April 28, on a case surrounding same-sex marriage bans, which could potentially bring marriage equality to all 50 states.
However, as the US sits on the cusp of potentially eliminating marriage discrimination, Ted Cruz – a Republican Senator for Texas – is attempting to force it back in the other direction.
According to Bloomberg News, Senator Cruz has this week filed two bills in the Republican-controlled Senate that would establish a constitutional amendment preventing legal action against states that continue to ban same-sex weddings, and blocking federal courts from deciding on the issue.
The bills would create a constitutional protection for states that define marriage as “between a man and a woman” – prolonging the battle well beyond the current Supreme Court case.
Any legislation opposing same-sex weddings will likely face strong opposition in the Senate, after the bruising repeal of part of the ‘Defense of Marriage Act’ in 2013 – and the bills are likely a stunt for Cruz to shore up support with evangelicals after recently launching his long-rumoured Presidential bid.
The Senator pledged to “uphold the sacrament of marriage” when announcing his run for President last month.
He said: “Instead of a federal government that works to undermine our values, imagine a federal government that works to defend the sanctity of human life, and to uphold the sacrament of marriage.”
Mr Cruz was picked as top choice for President last year by attendees at the anti-gay Values Voter Summit – which is run by a group that regularly compares gay rights to the holocaust.
Other rumoured contenders for the Republican nomination include Dr Ben Carson – who damaged his chances by claiming prisons prove being gay is a choice – and Jeb Bush, who has recently hired an anti-gay activist to work on his campaign team.
