The US House of Representatives on Thursday gave final approval to a law protecting same-sex marriages, a historic step in the battle for national recognition of same-sex marriages that reflects a dramatic shift in social attitudes.
President Joe Biden is expected to sign the measure shortly, which requires all states to recognize same-sex marriages, a relief for hundreds of thousands of couples who have married since a 2015 Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriages. marriages.
The bipartisan law, passed by a vote of 258 to 169, also protects interracial unions by forcing states to recognize legal marriages regardless of “sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.”
In the pre-vote debate, several gay legislators spoke about what it means for them and their families. Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire said he is set to marry “the love of my life” next year and that it is “inconceivable” that some states would not recognize their marriage.
Although the bill received some Republican votes, the majority of that party opposed it and some conservative groups lobbied aggressively against it because, they say, the law does not contain enough protections for those who want to refuse services to same-sex couples.
“God’s perfect design is truly a lifelong marriage between one man and one woman,” said Rep. Bob Good of Virginia. “And it doesn’t matter what you think or what I think, it’s what the Bible says.”
Democrats pushed for swift passage of the bill in the House and Senate after the Supreme Court in June struck down the federal right to abortion. The ruling included a comment by Judge Clarence Thomas that suggested reconsidering gay marriage.