GOP Sen. Ron Johnson Flips on Marriage Equality Bill

Also: Sen. Ron Johnson Calls Bill Codifying Same-Sex Marriage 'Completely Unnecessary' (HuffPost)

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Source: The Advocate

GOP Sen. Ron Johnson Flips on Marriage Equality Bill

BY TRUDY RING
AUGUST 23 2022 3:20 PM EDT

Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin seems to have reversed his position on the Respect for Marriage Act, now saying the legislation to write marriage equality into federal law is “completely unnecessary.”

Johnson said last month that he saw “no reason to oppose” the bill, which has been passed by the House of Representatives and is pending in the Senate. He said then that he considered it unnecessary, as he thought the Supreme Court was unlikely to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 ruling that established equal marriage rights nationwide. Justice Clarence Thomas has said he’d like to see Obergefell overturned.

But now Johnson, who was one of the few Republicans to publicly support the legislation, has stepped up his talk about it not being needed and said it needs to be amended to protect religious freedom.

“This is just Democrats opening up a wound that had really healed,” Johnson told Wisconsin TV station WISN recently. “I have always been supportive of civil unions, and the Supreme Court ruled on gay marriage and said, OK, that’s the decision, let’s move on.” He claimed the high court would never reverse that decision, unlike with its reversal of Roe v. Wade.

He also called the bill “completely unnecessary” and said it needs an amendment on religious freedom before he’d support it. ...

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Read more: https://www.advocate.com/politics/2022/8/23/gop-sen-ron-johnson-flips-marriage-equality-bill

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Source: HuffPost

Sen. Ron Johnson Calls Bill Codifying Same-Sex Marriage 'Completely Unnecessary'

Johnson, who previously said he saw "no reason to oppose" the bill, now wants an amendment protecting religious freedom.

By Marita Vlachou
Aug 23, 2022, 09:29 AM EDT

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) called the bipartisan congressional effort to codify same-sex marriage “completely unnecessary,” raising questions about whether he would support the bill.

Johnson on Friday told ABC affiliate WISN he is working on an amendment to the Respect for Marriage Act that would protect religious liberty. Conservative groups have reportedly tried to steer Republicans away from the bill, saying it would undermine religious freedom and legalize things like polygamy and child marriages.

“That is the concern right there. It’s a very legitimate concern,” Johnson said. “We’re working on an amendment, as well, before I’d ever support that.” He added that the bill “was completely unnecessary” because he believes “the decision on gay marriage will never be overturned” by the Supreme Court.

In July, Johnson signaled he would support the Senate version, according to CNN.

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Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ron-johnson-same-sex-marriage_n_6304ad01e4b035629bfe19ef