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Fordice also refused to discuss any increase in public school salaries even though Mississippi ranked 49th in the nation in regard to educator pay.  When teachers discussed going on strike, Fordice ordered that any teacher who did so would be quickly fired.<ref>"Rant, Listen, Exploit, Learn, Scare, Help, Manipulate, Lead," ''The New York Times.'' January 28, 1996, accessed October 25, 2021.</ref>

Fordice also refused to discuss any increase in public school salaries even though Mississippi ranked 49th in the nation in regard to educator pay.  When teachers discussed going on strike, Fordice ordered that any teacher who did so would be quickly fired.<ref>"Rant, Listen, Exploit, Learn, Scare, Help, Manipulate, Lead," ''The New York Times.'' January 28, 1996, accessed October 25, 2021.</ref>

In August 1996, Fordice signed an executive order banning recognition of same-sex marriages in Mississippi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://legalminds.lp.findlaw.com/list/queerlaw-edit/msg00020.html Sun Herald via Findlaw.com: State lawmakers opposed to gay marriages|title=State lawmakers opposed to gay marriages|publisher=legalminds.lp.findlaw.com|accessdate=October 25, 2021}}]</ref> In 2004, Mississippi voters passed a constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between a man and a woman and further banning recognition of same-sex marriages from other states and countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/2004-11-02-ms-intiative-gay-marriage_x.htm USA Today: Amendment banning gay marriage passes|title=Amendment banning gay mariage|publisher=''[[USA Today]]''

In August 1996, Fordice signed an executive order banning recognition of same-sex marriages in Mississippi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://legalminds.lp.findlaw.com/list/queerlaw-edit/msg00020.html Sun Herald via Findlaw.com: State lawmakers opposed to gay marriages|title=State lawmakers opposed to gay marriages|publisher=legalminds.lp.findlaw.com|accessdate=October 25, 2021}}]</ref> In 2004, Mississippi voters passed a constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between a man and a woman and further banning recognition of same-sex marriages from other states and countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/2004-11-02-ms-intiative-gay-marriage_x.htm USA Today: Amendment banning gay marriage passes|title=Amendment banning gay marriage|publisher=''[[USA Today]]''|date=November 2, 2004|accessdate=October 25, 2021}}</ref> In 2015, the [[United States Supreme Court]] upheld same-sex arrangements in the ''Obergefell v. Hodges'' (2015) opinion, which claims that the [[Fourteenth Amendment]] guarantees the fundamental right of marriage to all individuals regardless of sexual preference.

|date=November 2, 2004|accessdate=October 25, 2021}}</ref> In 2015, the [[United States Supreme Court]] upheld same-sex arrangements in the ''Obergefell v. Hodges'' (2015) opinion, which claims that the [[Fourteenth Amendment]] guarantees the fundamental right of marriage to all individuals regardless of sexual preference.

<ref>Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 1039, 576 U.S. 644 (2015): Case Brief Summary - Quimbee, accessed October 25, 2021.</ref>

<ref>Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 1039, 576 U.S. 644 (2015): Case Brief Summary - Quimbee, accessed October 25, 2021.</ref>