February 7, 2023
(Atlanta, GA) — Today, Georgia Senate Democrats introduced an amendment to the Georgia Constitution that would enshrine marriage equality for all Georgians. The amendment recognizes “any union between two adult[s], regardless of race, gender, or biological sex.”
The proposed Amendment would repeal the unconstitutional same-sex marriage ban in the Georgia Constitution and replace it with the new language that explicitly protects same-sex and interracial unions. The only state constitution which currently recognizes same-sex unions is Nevada’s, which was passed by the legislature in 2017 and approved by the people in 2020. Thirty-five other states have laws acknowledging the right to same-sex marriage, in line with the Supreme Court’s decision to protect this equal right under the law.
The Caucus’ proposed state constitutional resolution would be the second in the country to recognize LGBTQ marriage equality in this way and would be the first to enshrine the right to interracial marriage.
Senator Kim Jackson, the first openly LGBTQ person elected to serve in the Georgia Senate said, “Georgia has the opportunity to rectify past injustice with this Amendment and to be a national leader in advancing civil rights, and not just for the LGBTQ community. It is past time that we recognize marriage for what it is, and for what the Supreme Court of the United States has affirmed, a right protected under the U.S. Constitution. ”
“It is high time that Georgia fulfilled its promises to equally protect the marriage rights, of all Georgians, no matter who they love I sincerely hope the majority, with their promises for a more inclusive Georgia, will join us in advancing Georgia equality through ratifying this Amendment, and putting it directly to Georgia voters,” said Democratic Caucus Leader Gloria Butler.