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The House of Representatives on Thursday approved a landmark bill that protects federal rights for same-sex and interracial marriage to send to President Joe Biden, who has already mentioned that he expects sign it into law.
The Respect Marriage Act passed with bipartisan support in the Democratic-led House with 258 votes in favor by 258 against. After passing the Senate in late November, it now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.
The bill it also represents a personal victory for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose San Francisco congressional district was the birthplace of the LGBTQ rights movement.
The version that was approved contained an amendment that provides additional protections for the religious liberty and faith-based non-profit organizations, something that Republicans had endorsed and demanded be written between the pages of the bill.
Rep. Mike Lee of Utah introduced an amendment that would “ensure that federal bureaucrats do not discriminate against individuals, organizations, and other entities based on their sincerely held religious beliefs about gay marriage by prohibiting or denying the revocation of tax exemptions, licenses, contracts, benefits, etc.”
The Respect for Marriage Law formally repeals the Defense of Marriage Act of 811, which was signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton. That bill denied federal benefits to same-sex couples and allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.