North Dakota Votes Down Marriage Equality Even Though It's Already Legal

Despite becoming legal nationwide in 2015, North Dakota is still formally opposing same-sex marriage. After the Supreme Court’s decision, the state (like many others) needed to update its local laws to reflect the new freedom by removing mention of marriage between “one man and one woman” and “husband and wife.” However, Republicans in the state Senate defeated the new bill after if passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee. Seriously, North Dakota? This is just a formality at this point — you guys are just being incredibly bigoted and stubborn.

Democratic Senator John Grabinger was worried failing to update the laws could make the state vulnerable to lawsuits, telling ABC News, “Same-sex marriage is the supreme law of the land.” Yes, my friend, you are correct. However, Republican Senator Kelly Armstrong, chairman of the Judiciary Committee isn’t too worried. “I think it’s a pretty drastic over-estimation that we would end up in litigation if we don’t pass this bill,” she told ABC News.

Pink News reports Republican Janne Myrdal claimed the bill would “serve to diminish with official intent the honour and sacredness of what the human institution of marriage is described as in the North Dakota Constitution as it stands today.” Oh Janne, Janne, Janne. You should not be a lawmaker in any capacity.

Donnell Preskey Hushka, a spokeswoman for the North Dakota Association of Counties, told ABC News more than 150 same-sex couples have been married in North Dakota since the Supreme Court’s decision in June 2015. Refusing to pass the new bill does nothing except prove once again that the state’s lawmakers don’t care about the LGBTQ community, equality, or human rights. Those who are already legally married still are, and others can continue to get same-sex marriage licenses. Their state’s laws will just continue to define marriage in inaccurate and outdated language. Cool.