Senate Passes Bill Seeking to Protect Same-Sex Marriage

LGBTQ advocates have scored a legislative victory.

On Wednesday, the United States Senate advanced a bill that would codify federal protections for same-sex marriage.

According to Rolling Stone, the bill—known as the Respect for Marriage Act—passed by a vote of 62-37, more than the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster. The legislation received support from every Senate Democrat as well as a dozen Republican members: Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri; Richard Burr and Thom Tillis of North Carolina; Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia; Joni Ernst of Iowa; Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming; Lisa Murkowski of Alaska; Rob Portman of Ohio; Dan Sullivan of Alaska; Mitt Romney of Utah; and Todd Young of Indiana.

RFMA would repeal Bill Clinton’s Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and allowed states to deny recognition of same-sex marriage. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Section 3 of DOMA was unconstitutional, as the federal government could not discriminate against married gay couples by denying them federal protections. Two years later, the court struck down the DOMA section that allowed states not to recognize same-sex marriages; the decision effectively granted the constitutional right to marriage equality. Shortly after, the top House and Senate Democrats introduced RFMA.

Back in July, the House approved an earlier version of the bill with support from 47 Republicans. However, a bipartisan group of senators recently announced revisions to the bill that would protect religious liberties. The amendment states nonprofit religious organizations are not required to provide “any services, facilities or goods for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage.”

“Today, the Senate is taking a truly bold step forward in the march toward greater justice, greater equality, by advancing the Respect for Marriage Act,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said before Wednesday’s vote. “It’s a simple, narrowly tailored but exceedingly important piece of legislation that will do so much good for so many Americans. It will make our country a better, fairer place to live.”

The updated bill will return to the House for another vote. If approved, the bill will head to President Joe Biden’s desk for approval.