LGBTQ members of Congress applaud passage of bill protecting same-sex marriage [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The House passed a bill to protect same-sex and interracial marriages at the federal level, sending it to President Joe Biden’s desk.
• The legislation was passed with bipartisan support from both the House and Senate.
• Openly LGBTQ members of Congress celebrated the historic passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.

The House on Thursday passed a landmark bill that gives federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages. It was sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.

Openly LGBTQ members of Congress applauded the historic passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, calling it a triumph for equality.

“Voting to pass the Respect for Marriage Act today is one of the proudest votes I’ve ever cast,” Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.) wrote on Twitter. “I’m humbled. I’m honored. And I’m hopeful—as the fight for LGBTQ+ rights continues.”

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), one of two openly LGBTQ senators, also celebrated the House vote on Twitter, writing: “Being gay is normal. Gay friends, gay family members, and gay marriages are normal. It’s a great day in America.”

The Respect for Marriage Act will officially repeal the Defense of Marriage Act — the 1996 law that defines marriage for federal purposes as a union between one man and one woman. After Biden’s signature, it will require all states to acknowledge legal same-sex and interracial unions.

The bill passed the House in a 258-169 vote, with 39 Republican members joining every House Democrat in supporting the bill. In July, House members passed an earlier version of the legislation but Senate Republicans added new religious liberty protections.

LGBTQ lawmakers acknowledged, however, that further action is needed to guarantee equal rights for LGBTQ members.

“As the first openly gay member of color elected in history, enactment of the Respect for Marriage Act means the world to me, to my loved ones, and to millions of Americans,” Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) said Thursday. “Yet we cannot rest — the necessity of this legislation in response to extreme Supreme Court action is a stark call for our vigilance in the fight for human rights.”

However, should the Supreme Court overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the new law would not compel all 50 states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples nor does it stop states from moving to ban or limit same-sex marriages.

“Today, Congress took a critical step to ensure that Americans have the right to marry the person they love,” Biden said, adding that the passage “will give peace of mind to millions of LGBTQI+ and interracial couples who are now guaranteed the rights and protections to which they and their children are entitled.”

Source: The Hill