BOISE, Idaho — In a shocking power grab cloaked in “states’ rights” rhetoric, Idaho’s far-right lawmakers are openly defying the U.S. Supreme Court—and centuries of judicial precedent—by demanding the obliteration of Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 ruling that granted same-sex couples the freedom to marry. This extremist-backed resolution isn’t just a political stunt—it’s a direct assault on LGBTQ+ Americans, daring the nation’s highest court to plunge the country back into an era where love could be legislated into second-class status.

The GOP’s Dangerous Crusade: Rewriting History, Ripping Away Rights

1. The Resolution: A Blueprint for Bigotry
   • House Joint Memorial 1—spearheaded by Rep. Heather Scott (R-Blanchard), a far-right firebrand—declares same-sex marriage “illegitimate” and demands a return to the “natural order” of heterosexual-only unions. The text drips with hypocrisy, invoking “states’ rights” while ignoring that Idaho voters already rejected a same-sex marriage ban in 2014—before courts struck it down .
   • The measure sailed through committee on a 13-2 vote, showcasing the GOP’s lockstep march toward codifying discrimination. If passed, it would send a grotesque message to the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority: It’s open season on civil rights.
2. A Chilling Echo of Segregationist Tactics
   • Let’s be clear: “States’ rights” is the same poisonous mantra used to justify slavery, Jim Crow, and bans on interracial marriage. Now, Idaho’s Republicans are weaponizing it anew. “This isn’t about federalism—it’s about forcing your hate into our bedrooms,” blasted Rep. Todd Achilles (D-Boise) during the hearing.

Who’s Pulling the Strings? Meet the Anti-LGBTQ+ Hate Machine

• MassResistance: The driving force behind the resolution is a Massachusetts-based hate group notorious for likening homosexuality to pedophilia and pushing bans on LGBTQ+ books. Designated an extremist organization by the Southern Poverty Law Center, MassResistance has metastasized its bigotry into red states like Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana .
• Religious Right Allies: The Idaho Family Policy Center—a radical Christian group that called Pride flags “Satanic”—cheered the resolution, framing it as a “moral victory.” But critics fired back: “Since when did ‘pro-family’ mean destroying families?” demanded Sue Latta, who won Idaho’s 2014 marriage equality case .

“We Will Not Go Back”: LGBTQ+ Families Slam GOP’s Cruelty

At a raucous hearing packed with over 225 attendees, LGBTQ+ Idahoans delivered searing rebukes:

• Mistie DelliCarpini-Tolman, married to her wife since 2015, trembled as she described the GOP’s betrayal: “If Obergefell falls, my kids lose their health insurance. Is that your ‘family values’?”
• Koii Lauritsen, raised by two mothers, shouted: “My family isn’t a political pawn. We’re human beings!”
• Rev. Sara LaWall, a Boise pastor, blasted lawmakers: “You’re using the Bible as a weapon. Shame on you.”

Meanwhile, Republican leaders smirked through testimonies. Rep. Scott dismissed concerns as “fake outrage,” doubling down: “The courts trampled Idaho’s values. We’re taking back control” .

The Stakes: A Domino Effect Targeting All Civil Rights

This isn’t just about marriage. By overturning Obergefell, the Supreme Court’s hard-right justices—egged on by Clarence Thomas’ 2022 call to “reconsider” LGBTQ+ and contraceptive rights—could ignite a legal apocalypse:

• Interracial Marriage: Loving v. Virginia could be next.
• Contraception: Griswold v. Connecticut hangs by a thread.
• Privatized Discrimination: Businesses could legally refuse service to LGBTQ+ people.

Even if the Respect for Marriage Act (2022) protects out-of-state unions, Idaho could resurrect its ban overnight—stripping same-sex couples of adoption rights, medical privileges, and tax benefits.

Outrage Grows: “This Is Un-American!”

The backlash is volcanic. Over 69% of Americans support same-sex marriage, including nearly half of Idahoans. National advocacy groups warn of economic boycotts, recalling North Carolina’s $3.76 billion loss after its anti-trans “bathroom bill” .
“Idaho’s government is a national embarrassment,” fumed Jennifer Pizer of Lambda Legal. “They’re hellbent on dragging us back to the 1950s.”

What’s Next? A Fight for the Soul of America

The resolution now heads to Idaho’s GOP-dominated House and Senate, where passage is all but guaranteed. While the Supreme Court may not bite—yet—the message is clear: The far-right won’t stop until Obergefell is ashes.

But LGBTQ+ advocates aren’t backing down. “We’ve fought too hard to let extremists erase us,” said Rev. Josh Lee, a survivor of conversion therapy. “Idaho, we’re watching. History will judge you.”