Nevada legislature sets in motion initiative to pass the freedom to marry

Last month, legislators in Nevada took the initial steps necessary to begin the multi-year process of repealing a constitutional amendment in the state that prohibits same-sex couples from marrying and replacing it with a measure guaranteeing the freedom to marry to all couples. 

On May 23, the Nevada Assembly voted in favor of the resolution with strong bipartisan support, by a vote of 27 to 14. In April, the Nevada Senate passed the same resolution, again with strong support.

The resolution will now need to be approved again in the next legislative session, in 2015, and if it is passes this threshold, the measure will be placed before Nevada voters in November 2016.

Freedom to Marry's National Campaign Director, Marc Solomon, celebrated the passage last week. He said:

Lawmakers in Nevada took a huge step today toward undoing a discriminatory amendment that never should have been written into the state constitution and advancing the freedom to marry. We look forward to the day that Nevada couples join those in the 12 other marriage states in being able to make a lifelong commitment to the person they love.

Freedom to Marry applauds the Nevada legislature for standing on the Right Side of History today and taking the lead on repealing an amendment that does nothing but hurt Nevada families. We urge the legislature next year to continue considering why marriage matters and vote in favor of the resolution in the future steps of this multi-year process.  

Learn more about marriage in Nevada HERE.