Congress Passes Bipartisan “Respect for Marriage Act”

Left: President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, Credit: AFP - Getty Images Right: U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signs "The Respect for Marriage Act", Credit: REUTERS

Congress passed the Respect for Marriage Act on December 8, 2022. Gay marriage had strong bipartisan support and has gained approval in the last decade from more than two-thirds of the American people.

The bill was introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representative Jerry Nadler. Helping strike a Senate compromise that moved the bill forward was Rob Portman (R- OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kysten Simena (D-AZ) and Thom Tillis (R-NC). It received 12 Republican Senate votes and 39 House Republican (passed 61 to 36 in Senate and 258 to 169 in House), demonstrating significant political clout for the right to marry.

The bill’s passage represents another Joe Biden victory. The marriage rights for gay Americans has been Biden’s goal for more than a decade. He endorsed gay marriage in May of 2012 as vice president and three days later, President Obama, a little miffed, was on board. It’s now a badge of honor.