Current Affairs

Arkansas Senate passes measure to redefine marriage excluding gays in the US Constitution

Mar 01 2017
Written by Joseph McCormick

The Senate in the state of Arkansas has passed a resolution which seeks to define marriage, excluding gay couples, in the US Constitution.

The Senate in the Natural State today passed Senate Joint Resolution 7 by Republican State Senator Jason Rapert.

The measure defines marriage as the “union of one man and one woman.”

Arkansas Senate passes measure to redefine marriage excluding gays in the US Constitution

Filing Senate Joint Resolution 7 earlier this month, Mr Rapert wants to prohibit states from accepting any definition of marriage, “except as the union of one man and one woman and no other union shall be recognised with legal incidents thereof within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction”.

The motion will now go to the state’s House of Representatives.

34 states are currently required for a constitutional convention to be held. This rises to 38 plus a two-thirds vote in both Houses of Congress to be ratified.

However, in an interview with a local TV station, Senator Rapert said he believed there were enough votes across the country for this to happen and claimed he was part of the “silent majority” that was “going to speak again”.

This is not the first time the GOP Senator has sought a constitutional convention, having tried to also amend the document to ban all abortion.

Since the election of Donald Trump fears have grown over hard-fought protections for the LGBT community.

Despite claiming to be an LGBT ally, the President has rolled back trans rights.

The move was trashed as “meaningless” by the Human Rights Campaign.

“Marriage equality is settled law, and any bill or legislator seeking to undermine it is in conflict with the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Constitution,” said Kendra R. Johnson, HRC Arkansas state director.

“HRC Arkansas calls on our lawmakers put an end to these cynical, divisive theatrics, and start focusing on the issues that matter to Arkansans instead introducing a bill that would only seek to harm LGBTQ people.”