July 26, 2022 02:58 PM UTC

Local Religious Right Rushes To Re-litigate Marriage Equality

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• by: Colorado Pols

Yesterday, we were forwarded an “urgent national petition” sent out by the Centennial Institute, the conservative political activist wing of taxpayer-funded Colorado Christian University, calling for Colorado’s U.S. Senators to oppose legislation protecting marriage equality following the threat made by Justice Clarence Thomas in the recent Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade that other recently-won personal freedoms like marriage rights were next on the chopping block:

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Respect for Marriage Act” on July 19 by a vote of 267 to 157. The Act, which was suddenly rushed through the House without any public hearings or input, is an attack on millions of Americans, particularly people of faith, who believe marriage is between one man and one woman and that legitimate distinctions exist between men and women concerning family formation that should be recognized in the law. The bill was sent to the U.S. Senate, which needs 60 votes to move the bill forward.

The proposed Act seeks to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996, requiring federal recognition of any one state’s definition of marriage without any parameters whatsoever…

The IRS could rely on this congressional declaration supporting same-sex marriage to strip non-profit organizations of their tax-exempt status if they adhere to their belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. This Act effectively deputizes activist groups to sue religious individuals, organizations, and businesses with sincerely held religious beliefs that marriage is between one man and one woman. [Pols emphasis] This could include faith-based foster care providers, religious social service organizations that work jointly with the government to serve their communities, religious organizations and businesses that provide services under contract with the government, and any other persons or organizations that act “under color of state law.”

There’s a lot of irony in religious conservatives condemning a law that “deputized activist groups to sue,” after Texas’ abortion ban enabled precisely that in order to punish anyone who helps someone from Texas obtain an abortion. In that circumstance, “deputizing” the people to get sue-happy is just fine!

Setting aside that rank hypocrisy for a moment, a nearer-term political conflict for Colorado Republicans seems imminent now after Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joe O’Dea jumped at the opportunity to burnish his maverick-y brand by announcing his support for the very same Respect for Marriage Act. In doing so, just as conservative radio host Dan Caplis condemned O’Dea for his soft stance on abortion, O’Dea has just given the Republican party rank-and-file with yet another reason to undervote the Senate race. Even though O’Dea prevailed in the primary, don’t underestimate the importance of the religious right as part of the Colorado Republican coalition. Fighting against same-sex marriage and discrimination protection for LGBTQ+ Americans goes way, way back in the Colorado Republican Party.

Having survived the Republican primary in which marriage like abortion was a question for O’Dea to avoid whenever possible, O’Dea is now rushing to neutralize these traditional Republican landmine issues by openly triangulating off his own party’s position. The great danger of O’Dea’s strategy is leaving one’s self with no support at all.

It’s going to be awfully hard for Jeff Hunt to rally the faithful for Joe O’Dea now.