Jindal: Louisiana will obey the high court on gay marriages

Louisiana will comply with the Supreme Court’s order legalizing same-sex marriage, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Sunday.

“We don’t have a choice. Our agencies will comply with the court order,” the Republican presidential contender said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” after being asked why his state is the only one that has not yet issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples.


Appearing from the state capital, Baton Rouge, the governor explained his state is waiting on a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision to reverse a previous ruling upholding traditional marriage and implement the high court’s ruling.

On Friday, the state’s attorney general’s office issued a statement saying it found nothing in the Supreme Court’s decision that made it a legal requirement for officials to comply immediately.

“I think it is wrong for the federal government to force Christian individuals, businesses, pastors, churches, to participate in wedding ceremonies that violate our sincerely held religious beliefs,” Jindal said. “We have to stand up and fight for religious liberty. That’s where this fight is going,” he added, noting that President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both have “evolved their views” on the issue as public sentiment has changed.

Asked about his faltering job-approval ratings in Louisiana and Republican criticism of his performance as governor, Jindal defended his record of creating private-sector jobs.

“We’ve upset the apple cart, we’ve taken on the status quo, we’ve made big changes,” he said. “Secondly, I’ve said in my campaign, I want to run a campaign where we embrace our principles. Establishment Republicans don’t want us to do that.”