Equality Caucus Celebrates Bipartisan Senate Passage of the Respect for Marriage Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, by a bipartisan vote of 61 to 36, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 8404, the Respect for Marriage Act, to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and ensure critical protections for same-sex and interracial marriages. The Respect for Marriage Act was introduced in the House by House Judiciary Committee Chairman and Equality Caucus Vice Chair Jerrold Nadler (NY-10); all nine openly LGBTQ+ members of the House of Representatives, Tri-Caucus Chairs Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), and Judy Chu (D-CA); and Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). The Senate companion bill was introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (CA), Tammy Baldwin (WI) and Susan Collins (ME). The House of Representatives will now need to vote on the Senate-amended Respect for Marriage Act, so it can be sent to President Biden for his signature.

"Today, a bipartisan group of 61 Senators made clear that this country will not roll back the clock on marriage equality," said Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01), Chair of the Equality Caucus. "The Respect for Marriage Act is a crucial safeguard for LGBTQ+ people whose lives have been forever changed by Obergefell v. Hodges and Americans who are in interracial marriages thanks to Loving v. Virginia. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court declared marriage equality as the law of the land. Today, the Senate ensured those marriages will continue to be protected. I thank Senators Feinstein, Baldwin, and Collins for introducing this bill in the Senate and the bipartisan group of Senators who helped shepherd this bill through the Senate. I look forward to quickly passing the Senate-passed version of the bill in the House and sending it to the President's desk."

Founded in 2008, the mission of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus is to promote equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The Caucus, which is led by the nine openly LGBTQ+ members of the House of Representatives, is strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. and around the world.

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