Contrary to a recently trending social media post, President-elect Donald Trump has not issued any ban on same-sex marriage in the United States. The U.S. has been allowing same-sex marriage across all its states for close to a decade now, thanks to a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2015. No White House statements or reliable news reports show that same-sex marriage has been outlawed in the country.
Indeed, it’s important to note that Trump hasn’t at present assumed the office of Presidency. Even when he does, there are standards set in place that curtail the ability of a president to unilaterally ban same-sex marriage. These are checks and balances that preserve the integrity of the democratic system within the U.S.
Adding to the responsibilities held by the president, it should be stressed that no president holds the power to overturn a ruling established by the Supreme Court through an executive order. Consequently, the rumors that a president could, for instance, rescind the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision on same-sex marriage are mere talk.
A particular post on November 18 has fueled this misinformation suggesting that Trump has prohibited same-sex marriages in all 50 states and anyone defying this ban would be prosecuted. Not only is this claim unfounded, but also mocks the real strides that have been made in legalizing same-sex marriage.
The claim that ‘the only genders recognized by the U.S. government are male and female’ is equally false. Far from this, the American government explicitly prohibits discrimination against any federal employee or job applicant on the grounds of their gender identity. Moreover, federal regulations protect against sex discrimination in educational settings that receive federal funding.
Furthermore, it’s not just male and female genders that the U.S. government recognizes. The State Department offers passport applicants the ability to choose male, female, or X as their gender identity. This symbolizes the inclusive approach the U.S. government has embraced and advances even further when it comes to the respect and acknowledgement of diverse gender identities.
Limitations on gender options aren’t just missing on passport applications. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission maintain an option for non-binary gender on their forms and related documents. This represents the government’s pledge to champion for the rights of all citizens, regardless of their gender identity.
The U.S. Census Bureau notably exhibits this commitment and began allowing individuals to identify as transgender from the year 2021. This indicates the Bureau’s recognition and acceptance of the gender spectrum beyond the binary.
Even after his win in the 2024 presidential election against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump has not made any assertions supporting the repeal of the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriages. This apart, President Joe Biden too has remained silent on the supposed banning of same-sex marriages.
However, Trump’s perspective on same-sex marriages has demonstrably evolved over time. Today, he generally supports the right of same-sex couples to marry. This indicates his willingness to evolve his position as societal consciousness shifts regarding these rights.
In 2022, an Act titled ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ was passed by Congress, which mandates all states to recognize same-sex marriages. This comes into play if the Supreme Court ever overturns its previous ruling. However, it doesn’t force states to issue same-sex marriage licenses, again underscoring the point that no one person holds the right to change this law.
The inaccuracies and misconceptions spread by social media posts only serve to distort reality and foster an environment of uncertainty and fear. The recent posts claiming the ban on same-sex in the U.S. by the President-elect are a prime example of this very misinformation.
To summarize, President-elect Donald Trump has not banned same-sex marriage across the 50 states and doesn’t wield the authority to do so at a stretch when he assumes office. Contrarily, his position appears to have evolved on this issue, veering towards the supportive side of same-sex marriage in the U.S. It’s essential to rely on credible sources for news about such significant topics, rather than believing the rumors that circulate on social media.