Oklahoma GOP Legislators Seek Supreme Court to Overturn Same-Sex Marriage

Oklahoma Republican legislators, led by Sen. Dusty Deevers and Rep. Jim Olsen, have filed a non-binding resolution urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The resolution argues that the ruling conflicts with the U.S. Constitution and Oklahoma's state constitution, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Supporters claim the Supreme Court overreached and usurped state authority, referencing Oklahoma’s 2004 voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage and drawing parallels to the Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision on abortion. Critics, including LGBTQ+ advocates and Democratic lawmakers, argue the move is symbolic, wastes legislative time, and signals disregard for LGBTQ+ constituents. The resolution is part of a broader trend among conservative states challenging Obergefell, but legal experts emphasize it carries no force of law and has no immediate impact on marriage rights. Concerns remain among LGBTQ+ Oklahomans about the message sent and the potential consequences if such efforts were ever successful.