A Republican state representative is being threatened with censorship by his local political party because of a joint resolution he is sponsoring that will diversify the definition of marriage statewide.
Rep. Chris Sander (R-Lone Jack) is calling on lawmakers to change the state's definition of marriage from "between a man and a woman" to "between two individuals."
But in response, members of the Jackson County Republican Central Committee will vote on a resolution to censure Rep. Sander next week on Feb. 27 at 7 pm.
Sander
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“I will continue to serve and represent Missourians no matter the outcome of the vote,” Sander said in an interview. “I would like support and co-sponsors for HJR 31 from House members. Please call, email and visit state representatives to cosponsor HJR 31.”
Currently, Missouri law only allows marriage between two people of the opposite sex however the designation began to conflict with federal law after the Respect for Marriage Act was enacted last year by U.S. Pres. Joe Biden.
“I filed the same legislation last year in the Missouri House,” Sander told the St. Louis Record. “Missourians should not be required to get married in another state in order for two individuals to be recognized as married.”
Section 33 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri states that to be valid and recognized statewide, a marriage shall exist only between a man and a woman.
However, in 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in Obergefell v. Hodges that state bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional.
Sander is openly homosexual, according to media reports.
"He's a nice guy, and I get where he's trying to come from because he is a gay man and he wants to have same-sex marriages recognized in the Missouri constitution as a marriage rather than a civil union," said Andy Wells, a local conservative pundit. "But the backside of that is the Missouri State Constitution stills says between man and woman. So, he's trying to get that to meet the federal rule."
Wells added that gay marriage is not part of the state Republican party platform.
"The Republican Party platform has no problem with the civil union," he said. "If you want to have a civil union, which has the same legal standings as marriage, great but don't call it marriage because marriage is religious, not legal."
If lawmakers approve the resolution, the issue will be placed on the 2024 ballot for Missourians to decide.
“I was vetted by the party in July and recommended for support by the committee,” Sander added. “I was unopposed in the primary and general elections.”