Respect for Marriage Act

The Senate has the opportunity to put those fears to rest and give millions of people in same sex and interracial marriages the certainty, dignity and respect that they need and deserve.

United States Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI.), lead sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act that was passed in the Senate with a 61-36 vote. Baldwin is the first openly gay person to serve in the Senate.

Why It Matters: The Respect for Marriage Act would guarantee government recognition of marriage between two people if the marriage was valid in the state that licensed the union. This legislation “gained steady momentum” after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe V. Wade; in the concurring opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas, he suggested that same-sex marriage could be challenged.

Bottom Line: If the Supreme Court were to overturn the court’s 2015 decision to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, the Respect for Marriage Act “would require states to recognize all marriages that were legal where they were performed, and [would] protect current same-sex unions.”

The bill must be passed by the House and signed by President Biden to be made into law. It is expected to be approved in the House as soon as next week.

Landmark same-sex marriage bill wins Senate passage (The Associated Press)

Senate passes landmark legislation protecting same-sex marriage rights: recap (USA Today)