President Joe Biden has signed a bill into law that seeks to permanently protect same-sex and interracial marriages.
The “Respect for Marriage Act” codifies protections for married couples of all races and sexual orientations and requires the federal government to recognize these marriages in all 50 states… which is already the law of the land for the time being.
The bill was approved by a vote of 258-169 in the House and 61-36 in the Senate. Some Republicans supported the legislation, but neither house had a majority.
The White House hosted an event on the South Lawn to commemorate the occasion, which included several guests and even some music acts to help ring in the new year. Sam Smith, a nonbinary artist, was among those who performed… singing their hit “Stay With Me.”
Cyndi Lauper, who appeared at Tuesday’s press conference, also performed her classic song “True Colors.” There were two more acts, including a gay choir. Guest speakers included Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Nancy Pelosi.
During the signing ceremony, Biden emphasized the importance of the move for all Americans, emphasizing the importance of being able to marry whomever you want and having that right protected by law under the federal government.
The Respect for Marriage Act is intended to protect against potential reversals of key Supreme Court cases that have weighed in on these issues in the past, namely Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015 and, of course, Loving v. Virginia in 1967. The former promised gay couples the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples, while the latter promised interracial couples the same rights.
The bill was drafted shortly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, effectively eliminating a federally protected right to abortion. There was fear that the Supreme Court would go after Obergefell and Hodges as well, especially after Justice Clarence Thomas suggested in his controversial written opinion that cases like these needed another look as well.
However, the Supreme Court may still decide to review this new law.
