On Thursday, the United States Congress passed legislation to safeguard same-sex marriage under federal law. President Joe Biden has signaled that he will swiftly sign the measure.
The measure received bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. Thirty-nine Republicans voted alongside a united Democratic majority in favor of the landmark legislation. Cross-party support for new laws has become rare in an increasingly divided American political landscape.
The Senate passed the same bill on November 29th. Twelve Republicans voted across party lines with a Democratic majority to ensure it passed at the Senate level.
Respect for Marriage Act
The new legislation, known as the Respect for Marriage Act, was rushed through the House of Representatives and the Senate by supporters.
Politicians in favor of the new law were concerned that the Republican-majority Supreme Court might change the legal status of same-sex marriage. These concerns were raised after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade in June of this year.
The Supreme Court’s ruling in June overturned the previous decision in 1973 to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right. Now, abortion rights are up to individual states.
Progressives were worried that rights associated with same-sex marriage could be similarly affected after Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that lawmakers should also consider examining gay marriage.
The Respect for Marriage Act does not make the legalization of gay marriage in individual states mandatory. Still, it does require them to recognize same-sex marriages as valid if they were performed in a state where legal.
The new legislation also provides protection for the legal status of interracial marriage.
Reactions to the same-sex marriage legislation
President Joe Biden expressed his support for the bill. “Congress has restored a measure of security to millions of marriages and families,” he said. “They have also provided hope and dignity to millions of young people across this country who can grow up knowing that their government will recognize and respect the families they build.”
Outgoing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi also hailed the same-sex marriage bill as a triumph. “Today this chamber proudly stands with the forces of freedom,” she said.
“I began my career fighting for LGBTQ communities,” Pelosi tweeted after the law had been passed, “and now, one of the final bills that I will sign as Speaker will ensure the federal government never again stands in the way of marrying the person you love.”
“The Respect for Marriage Act will soon be the law of the land: a glorious triumph for love and freedom,” Pelosi added in another tweet.
My heart is full.
The Respect for Marriage Act will soon be the law of the land: a glorious triumph for love and freedom. pic.twitter.com/t88fCr2rlI
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 8, 2022
Opposition to the same-sex marriage legislation was mostly on religious grounds. Jim Jordan, a representative for Ohio’s 4th congressional district, commented that the new legislation “does not go far enough” to protect religious liberty.
“This bill is simply the latest installment of the Democrats’ campaign to intimidate the highest court in our land,” he added.
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