Hello, everyone!
It’s probably not a surprise to you that Congress is somewhat struggling. This is usually how the US government works – narrow majorities in the best of times, and even if your party holds Congress and the Presidency, having legislation pass is not a guarantee. Today’s congress is no exception, being described by many as a “lame duck” congress. However, this congress, about to be overhauled by the candidates elected earlier this month, has just made a monumental achievement:
The Senate passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.
This act will codify marriage equality on the federal level. In doing so, it will repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, (though it is undeserving of the term) which had denied federal benefits to same-sex couples. Now, states will be obligated to recognize the validity of all marriages, especially out-of-state marriages, no matter their sex, race, or ethnicity. While same-sex marriage was once a controversial political topic, the senate passage of this Act shows how much public opinion has shifted – now, about 7 of 10 Americans believe that same-sex marriage should be protected by the government. Now, it finally is.
This bill is one of the Democrat congress’s last great achievements, before Republicans take over the House of Representatives. It enjoyed bipartisan support, with a Republican coalition of 12 aiding the Democrats in defeating a filibuster and carrying the Act to victory, by a 61-to-36 vote. Unfortunately, the Republican backers conditioned that religious organizations did not have to recognize same-sex marriages. However, this is still a great success, and at a crucial time, because the rights of LGBTQ persons have come under attack as of late. The mass shooting in Colorado Springs not long ago targeted a LGBTQ-friendly bar, and there was the possibility that the conservative Supreme Court would remove the right to same-sex marriage. After overturning Roe v. Wade, Judge Clarence Thomas said that they “should reconsider” the right to marriage equality. The Respect for Marriage Act ensures that, no matter the Court’s actions, same-sex marriage will be enshrined in law.
The fight isn’t over yet, though. The bill has not yet passed the House of Representatives, and this must be done before the GOP takes over. Until then, the Democrats have a solid majority, and the bill is expected to pass with little trouble. President Biden said he was excited to sign it into law, alongside the bipartisan coalition that made it all happen. To him, the vote reaffirmed “a fundamental truth: Love is love, and Americans should have the right to marry the person they love.”