On Thursday, the House voted to adopt legislation to safeguard same-sex and interracial marriage, the final step before the bill is sent to President Joe Biden for his signature and becomes law.
The vote in the House was 258 to 169, with 39 Republicans joining the Democrats in support. When the voting was called to an end, the chamber erupted in cheers.
While the law would not impose a nationwide mandate that all states legalize same-sex marriage, it would oblige individual states to recognize the legal marriage of another state.
After the Supreme Court overruled its historic Roe v. Wade decision in June, the movement for a vote on federal legislation allowing same-sex marriage gained traction quickly.
Last week, the Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act by a vote of 61 to 36. All members of the Senate Democratic caucus and 12 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.
In the event that the Supreme Court overturns its 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, which legalized same-sex marriage, a state may still implement legislation prohibiting same-sex marriage, but that state must still recognize a same-sex marriage from another state.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that she is “overjoyed” that one of the last measures she will assist pass while serving as speaker will be legislation guaranteeing same-sex marriage in the United States.
“Just as I began my career fighting for LGBTQ communities, I am overjoyed that one of the final bills I will sign as speaker will be the Respect for Marriage Act: ensuring the federal government will never again stand in the way of marrying the person you love.”
President Joe Biden praised the Senate’s ratification of the Respect for Marriage Act last week, stating, “For millions of Americans, this legislation will safeguard the rights and protections to which LGBTQI+ and interracial couples and their children are entitled.”
Biden added: “I look forward to welcoming them at the White House after the House passes this legislation and sends it to my desk, where I will promptly and proudly sign it into law.”
The Supreme Court’s decision in June to rule that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to abortion generated instant outrage and condemnation from liberal groups, as well as fears that the court’s conservative majority may target same-sex marriage in the future. When Roe v. Wade was overturned, Justice Clarence Thomas specifically asked the court to reconsider the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which paved the path for same-sex marriage statewide.
The Supreme Court is now deliberating on a case involving LGBTQ rights and religious liberty.
On Monday, many conservative Supreme Court justices appeared receptive to arguments from a graphic designer who wants to launch a website company celebrating weddings but does not want to deal with same-sex couples.
The conservative justices saw the case through the prism of free speech, arguing that the government could not force an artist or someone developing a customized product to communicate a message that violated her religious views.