Bobby Jindal: Louisiana Governor Says State Won’t Recognize Gay Marriage Yet, Calls It ‘All Out Assault On Religious Freedom’

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said his state will not yet recognize gay marriage, and that he disagrees with the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize it nationwide, one of the most decisive statements on the issue among 2016 presidential candidates.

Jindal responded Friday to the ruling that mandated all states to recognize gay marriage, saying Louisiana will not do so until a lower court rules on the issue. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had been waiting to rule on gay marriage until after the Supreme Court ruling.

“Our agencies will have no choice but to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision when the 5th Circuit Court orders the ruling into effect – even though we disagree with it and believe it was wrongly decided, and has nothing to do with the Constitution,” said Mike Reed, Jindal’s spokesman in the governor’s office.

The wait for same-sex couples in Louisiana likely won’t be too long. Lawyers said it should only take a few days for the lower court ruling, and there is some judicial pressure as well.

“Until the mandate from the lower court is issued, this ruling is not yet in effect,” Reed said in a written statement.

The stance could have something to do with Bobby Jindal’s decision to run for president in 2016. Other GOP candidates including Jeb Bush have spoken out against the ruling, though Jindal’s stance has been the most stark.

From USA Today:

Within an hour of the decision, former Florida governor Jeb Bush released a statement proclaiming his belief in “traditional marriage” but saying it’s now important to “protect religious freedom and the right of conscience.” Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who became candidate No. 13 in the GOP presidential contest this week, warned of “an all-out assault against the religious freedom rights of Christians who disagree with this decision.”

Bobby Jindal is already coming under pressure for the decision. New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu called out Jindal for standing in the way of progress and called on him to enact gay marriage.

“We are a nation of laws, and Louisiana is no exception. The State has no legal authority to delay issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples even a moment longer,” Landrieu said in a written statement.

“It is time for Gov. Bobby Jindal and Attorney General Buddy Caldwell to stop denying committed, loving couples in Louisiana their constitutional right to marry. They’ve waited long enough,” he added.

There could be other pressure for Bobby Jindal to implement gay marriage in Louisiana. There are already seven same-sex couples filing a motion that would force the state to enact the Supreme Court’s ruling.

[Image via Getty Images/Sean Gardner]