Anti-LGBTQ+ Republican Ted Cruz. (Getty/ Chip Somodevilla)
Senator Ted Cruz has argued that the Supreme Court was “clearly wrong” to legalise same-sex marriage in the 2015 Obergefell v Hodges.
The Texas Republican made the comments in an episode of his Verdict+ podcast, discussing the fate of Obergefell following the recent overturning of Roe v Wade.
Cruz echoed US Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas who, after Roe v Wade was overturned when the court ruled in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization last month, wrote a concurring opinion stating that the Supreme Court should also reconsider cases that granted the right to same-sex marriage, same-sex relationships and contraception.
Although Thomas’ opinion has no legal weight, it confirmed the LGBTQ+ community’s fears that members of the Supreme Court intend to target other vital rights.
Cruz said: “Obergefell, like Roe v Wade, ignored two centuries of our nation’s history.
“Marriage was always an issue that was left to the states. We saw states before Obergefell —some states were moving to allow gay marriage, other states were moving to allow civil partnerships. There were different standards that the states were adopting.”
And there it is. Ted Cruz says the Supreme Court was wrong to legalize same-sex marriage. pic.twitter.com/WoprwsLV4R
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) July 16, 2022
He continued: “In Obergefell the court said, ‘No, we know better than you,’ and now every state must sanction and permit gay marriage.
“I think that decision was clearly wrong when it was decided. It was the court overreaching.”
Democrats hit out at the anti-LGBTQ+ senator’s comments, and outrage was so widespread that his name began trending on Twitter.
Democratic strategist Atima Omara wrote: “Ted Cruz is trending because he said Obergefell v Hodges, which made same-sex marriage legal in the US, was wrongly decided.
“Both Thomas and Alito basically said the same thing in the Roe draft opinion and official opinion. The GOP is not stopping at Roe, they never were.”
Ted Cruz is trending because he said Obergefell v Hodges which made same sex marriage legal in the US was wrongly decided.
Both Thomas and Alito basically said the same thing in the Roe draft opinion and official opinion. The GOP is not stopping at Roe, they never were https://t.co/v92QCjRYhJ
— Atima Omara (@atima_omara) July 16, 2022
ted cruz says the decision to legalize gay marriage was wrong
y’all they are moving and they are moving QUICKLY pic.twitter.com/nT7N27de4c
— matt (@mattxiv) July 16, 2022
71% of Americans support gay marriage, and that percentage keeps increasing. Ted Cruz supports SCOTUS overturning it.
Only 36% of Americans approve of Ted Cruz.
Two times as many Americans support gay marriage as support Ted Cruz. Overturn the very slimy Ted Cruz. pic.twitter.com/adxjICQbxx— Rick G. Rosner (@dumbassgenius) July 17, 2022
Such a disgrace to his adoptive state of Texas and our nation. @tedcruz needs to go back to his birth nation of Canada
— Jennie Lou Leeder (@JennieLouLeeder) July 17, 2022
No. Y’all, if we want to codify abrotion & marirage equality we have to show out even harder these midterms. https://t.co/SgrT0VFwgO
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) July 17, 2022
Ted Cruz made clear today he hates same-sex marriage.
I think the truth is Ted Cruz has problems with his own marriage and doesn’t understand what true love is.
It is as simple as that.
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) July 17, 2022
Texas Democrat Jennie Lou Leader described Cruz as ” a disgrace to his adoptive state of Texas and our nation”, while another Democratic strategist, Adam Parkhomenko, added: “Ted Cruz made clear today he hates same-sex marriage.
“I think the truth is Ted Cruz has problems with his own marriage and doesn’t understand what true love is. It is as simple as that.”