Will Congress Codify Same-Sex Marriage into Law?

The House of Representatives recently passed the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill intended to codify into law the right of all couples, including same-sex couples, to marry. The move comes after the right to an abortion–sanctified only in Supreme Court judicial precedent–was overturned by a conservative-dominated court. As of now, same-sex marriage is also legal as the result of the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court ruling.

Surprisingly, 47 Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the bill, which has led to optimism among LGBTQ rights advocates that the Respect for Marriage Act might even pass the gridlocked Senate.

However, given Republican refusals to hand any political victory to Democrats, it is not a given that the Senate will pass the bill. One Republican representative, Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania, voted against the House bill just 3 days before attending his gay son’s wedding.

 

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Abortion Codification Democrats LGBTQ marriage act Republicans Same Sex Marriage Supreme Court