Amidst fears that the Supreme Court could take decisions that might affect the recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages, the US House of Representatives Tuesday passed a bill that will ensure federal protection for such unions. The Respect for Marriage Act mandates that US states recognize a valid marriage performed in another state. This would protect not only same-sex unions but also interracial marriages. The bill was passed 267-157, with Democrats and Republicans voting in favour.
This Act comes as a big relief for the LGBTQ community. Although the court had struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act, which denied federal benefits to married same-sex couples, in 2013 is still in the books. Besides, the threat to same-sex marriages became real when the SC, on June 24, decided to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 act that guaranteed the right to abortion.
US Representative Jerry Nadler took to Twitter and expressed happiness at the bill getting passed. He said, “Today my bill, the #RespectforMarriageAct passed the House w/ bipartisan support. Since I first filed the bill over a decade ago, the fight for marriage equality has seen many highs and lows, but perhaps none more frightening than the current threat posed by SCOTUS.”
Furthermore, the House is expected to vote on the Right to Contraception Act later in the week. This bill is aimed at protecting access to contraceptives for the people in the country.
