The bipartisan bill, which will protect the marriages of same-sex and interracial couples under federal law, now heads back to the House of Representatives for a concurrence vote.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the United States Senate voted to pass the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) by a bipartisan vote of 61-36.
The bill will formally repeal the unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and ensure that federal law continues to recognize marriage equality — providing LGBTQ+ and interracial couples with added security and protections amid looming threats from the Supreme Court following the overturning of Roe v. Wade this summer.
“Our families deserve to know that they are respected and protected no matter what,” says Family Equality CEO, Stacey Stevenson. “Equality and safety are fundamental to true freedom, and we’re overjoyed that the Senate has reflected the will of the people by taking steps to provide LGBTQ+ and interracial families with the security and federal law protections they deserve.”
“The Senate’s bipartisan support of this bill reaffirms what we already know: marriage equality is the law of the land,” says Chief Policy Officer, Shelbi Day. “With the House’s concurrence vote and President Biden’s signature, we will be able to put this issue to rest and focus on passing nondiscrimination protections to ensure that LGBTQ+ people are protected and respected in all aspects of our lives.”
The bipartisan support demonstrated in both the House and Senate votes reflects recent polling, which suggests that 71% of Americans from all demographics, geographies, and political parties support marriage equality.
About Family Equality
Family Equality is creating a world where everyone can experience the love, safety, and belonging of family. As the leading national organization for current and future LGBTQ+ families, we work to ensure that everyone has the freedom to find, form, and sustain their families by advancing LGBTQ+ equality through advocacy, support, storytelling, and education.
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Press Contact
Tonya Agnew,
Chief Communications Officer
(765) 490-4709 / tagnew@familyequality.org