Portrait of Nikki Haley
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Nikki Haley on Same-Sex Marriage

Defended state ban (moderate) Position evolved

TL;DR

As Governor, Nikki Haley defended South Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage, though she was later dismissed from related legal challenges.

Key Points

  • As South Carolina Governor, Haley's office defended the state's ban on same-sex marriage against federal challenges in 2013 and 2014.

  • A federal judge dismissed her as a defendant in a key marriage equality lawsuit in November 2014, continuing the case against the Attorney General.

  • In later statements, she indicated that the Supreme Court's ruling legalizing same-sex marriage is settled law, contrasting with her earlier executive role.

Summary

Nikki Haley's official involvement with Same-Sex Marriage centered on her role as the Governor of South Carolina, where she oversaw the state's defense of its constitutional ban against recognizing same-sex unions. In 2014, during legal challenges, her office, through the Attorney General, defended the state's position, asserting that South Carolina was not required to honor gay marriages legally performed elsewhere, even after federal circuit rulings indicated the ban was likely unconstitutional. Haley was specifically named as a defendant in a federal lawsuit filed by a same-sex couple seeking marriage equality in the state.

However, this direct involvement in defending the ban appears to be in the past, as a federal judge ultimately dismissed her as a defendant in the lawsuit in November 2014, allowing the case to proceed against the Attorney General. In contrast to her actions as governor, Haley has stated in more recent national political contexts that she now believes the Supreme Court's ruling on marriage equality is settled law, though she remains generally aligned with conservative positions on related social issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nikki Haley has stated that the Supreme Court's decision establishing a nationwide right to same-sex marriage is settled law. While she has not focused heavily on the issue during her recent presidential campaigns, her current stance reflects acceptance of the binding legal precedent. This contrasts with her actions during her time as governor.

No, as Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley was involved in the state's defense of its constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Her office, via the Attorney General, argued against recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. She was named as a defendant in a lawsuit challenging the ban.

Yes, her public actions suggest an evolution in her public position. While she was on the defensive side of a legal fight to uphold the state ban while in office, she has later acknowledged that the Supreme Court's ruling on the matter is final.