Codification of Marriage Equality within our Constitution

The codification of marriage equality within our Constitution is essential to ensure equal rights for both the LGBTQ+ community and individuals with disabilities. This principle should be universally accepted, rather than subject to debate, regardless of political affiliation.

Since the 2015 Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, the Republican Party in the United States of America has attempted to overturn it. They perceive it as an attack on the family but denying marriage to a select few is the real attack. The due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment is explicit: "No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Simply put, everyone within the borders of the United States should be treated fairly under the law, including the right to marry the person of their choice.

Unfortunately, the influence of a politically motivated majority on the Supreme Court threatens this equality. There are those who fail to recognize that allowing states to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity opens the door to further discrimination of marginalized communities. For instance, states who believe it is too hard to provide home and community services could petition this corrupt Supreme Court to overturn Olmstead, which safeguards individuals with significant disabilities from being forced into nursing homes and other institutions against their will. As we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, this can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening.

Straight couples who believe that marriage equality should not be the law of the land do not understand the potential consequences of their stance. Back in 2015 we saw in Clark County, Kentucky, what happens when a woman attempts to deny rights; she ended up in jail. If similar actions were taken against straight abled-bodied couples, there would be outrage, and rightly so. What if a nurse denied visitation to a straight couple?  Why are we allowing a small faction on the right to dictate to the rest of us whom we can legally marry?

Now is the time to pass a constitutional amendment codifying marriage equality for all. Liberals, moderates, and conservatives must acknowledge that marriage is a fundamental right that the founding fathers forgot to include in the Bill of Rights. I am not referring to marriage as a sacrament—because, quite frankly, marriage is not a sacrament. None of the four canonized Gospels mention marriage as a sacrament. It is a legal right that everyone must enjoy.

The fight for marriage equality is more than just a battle for the LGBTQ+ community or individuals with disabilities—it is a fight for the dignity, liberty, and fundamental rights of every individual. By codifying marriage equality in the Constitution, we affirm the values of fairness and justice that the United States aspires to uphold. We cannot allow a narrow, politically driven agenda to erode the progress we have made or to dictate who is deemed worthy of full citizenship. It is our collective duty to ensure that love, commitment, and equality under the law are rights guaranteed to all. Let us move forward not as a divided nation, but as one that recognizes the humanity and intrinsic worth of every person. The time for action is now.