Republican Candidate Wants 'Public Shaming' for People Who Divorce

A Republican Oklahoma Senate candidate said this week that those at fault in a divorce should face "public shaming."

In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter by @RightWingWatch, Dusty Deevers, a pastor and Republican Senate candidate in Oklahoma's 32nd District, spoke about some of the issues he is focused on including pornography and no-fault divorce.

"I want to see pornography abolished, I want to see no-fault divorce come back to at-fault in divorce and even public shaming for those who are at fault in divorce," Deevers says in the clip. "I want to see abortion abolished. These are the kinds of morality and government issues that we need to get back to."

Responding to another post from @RightWingWatch about his views, Deevers wrote, "Christ is Lord."

Newsweek reached out to Deevers' campaign via social media direct message for comment.

Deevers' remarks this week come as some other conservatives have also discussed the idea of ending no-fault divorce laws, which are currently in place across all 50 U.S. states. These laws allow for a person in a marriage to file for a divorce without citing a specific reason or behavior, such as abuse or adultery, as a reason for their decision.

The Republican-led state of Louisiana discussed the removal of no-fault divorce laws earlier this year. However, no decision was made, and these laws remain in place.

House Speaker Mike Johnson also previously spoke about no-fault divorce laws in a 2016 sermon, where he said they have led the nation into a "completely amoral society," CNN reported.

Deevers says on his campaign website: "It is outrageous that abortion pills still flow legally through our state. It is outrageous that pornography and no-fault divorce are so prevalent in our society. It is outrageous that Critical Race Theory and Queer Theory dominate in many of our public institutions. I promise to support legislation to put a stop to all of this."

Some Republican members of Congress are currently divorced, including Republican Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. Former President Donald Trump divorced twice before marrying his current wife, Melania Trump.

Paulette Rigo, a certified divorce coach, previously spoke to CNN about no-fault divorce laws and how these laws are supported by women's rights groups.

"You have a plaintiff, a defendant. You have to spend hundreds of dollars an hour on an attorney. And that seems silly if both people in the relationship want the same thing. Of course, there are cases that require litigation, but the idea that it has to be that way can be even more destructive for families during a difficult time," Rigo told CNN. "Under U.S. laws, every person has a right to divorce, even if your spouse says no."