KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on Tuesday announced he has issued an executive order mandating all state government agencies comply with last month’s U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states.
Nixon, a Democrat, made the statement at an event at the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City.
The full order can be read here.
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NOW, THEREFORE, I, JEREMIAH W. (JAY) NIXON, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Missouri, do hereby Order all departments, agencies, boards and commissions in the executive branch to immediately take all necessary measures to ensure compliance with the Obergefell decision in all aspects of their operations.
On Friday, June 26, 2015 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges, extending marriage rights to all same-sex couples in the United States.
With his Executive Order, Nixon has instructed instructs all government agencies, bureaus and commissions to implement the decision. This includes updating forms and operating procedures to be fully inclusive.
“We are grateful for Gov. Nixon’s leadership in recognizing the rights of LGBT Missourians and we look forward to working with him and his Administration to fully implement marriage equality across the state,” said A.J. Bockelman, Executive Director of PROMO, Missouri’s statewide LGBT advocacy organization.
Nixon also reiterated his call for state lawmakers to pass the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation, saying employees can still be fired in Missouri because of their sexual orientation.
He noted 19 Missouri Republican senators voted to the pass the act two years ago, albeit on the last day of the session before it could reach the House. A bill to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity passed out of the only Democratic-led Senate committee this year, but never was debated on the Senate floor.
