Congress Passes Bill Protecting Same-Gender, Interracial Marriage Rights

A bill to codify the right to same-gender and interracial marriage was overwhelmingly passed by the Congress on Tuesday, July 19. The passage of the “Respect for Marriage Act” comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, and polling that shows Americans have become increasingly supportive of same-gender marriage. A record 71% of people in the U.S. support marriage equality, according to a June poll from Gallup.

Representative Liz Cheney and Representative Nicole Malliotakis were among the 47 republicans voting for the bill’s passage alongside the House democratic majority. As the tally came in, the sound of applause filled the chamber.

“Today, I will vote to codify same-sex marriage to ensure our fellow Americans continue to have the right to equal marriage under the federal law,” Malliotakis says. Going a step further, she expresses regret for voting against the legalization of same-gender marriage in New York when she served in the state Assembly.

Democratic Representative Mondaire Jones says, “For me, this is personal. Imagine telling the next generation of Americans, my generation, we no longer have the right to marry who we love. Congress can’t allow that to happen.”

Many House republicans dismissed the bill as unnecessary before voting against it. Republican Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio calls the proposal an attempt to “intimidate” the Supreme Court and calls the threat to same-gender marriage a “manufactured crisis.” Accusing the democrats of using the legislation as a political tool, Jordan says there was no need for the bill. However, democratic House leaders have indicated they will also vote on legislation to codify access to contraception.

The bill moves on to an uphill battle in the Senate, where republican support, albeit scattered, is also possible. An earlier effort to pass legislation codifying the right to abortion didn’t gain enough support to overcome a republican filibuster. It is unclear if the bill can draw the support of the 10 republican votes it needs to move it forward.

The Senate has not indicated whether it will vote on the bill this session or postpone a vote until after the recess in August.