House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) signed a bill to codify same-sex marriage as one of her final acts as the leader of her party.
Pelosi signed the Respect for Marriage Act on Thursday after if was approved in a vote, sending it to the president's desk to sign into law.
House passes bill to codify same-sex marriage, sends legislation to President Bidenhttps://t.co/8cwPzYQ1tm
— NewsChannel 5 (@NC5) December 8, 2022
"In June, the Republican supermajority on the Supreme Court eviscerated long-standing precedent and the right to privacy with its disgraceful decision to overturn Roe v. Wade," Pelosi wrote in a Washington Post op-ed.
"Justice Clarence Thomas took explicit aim at marriage equality: urging the court to reconsider Obergefell and upend the lives of countless families across the country,” she continued.
“While his legal reasoning is twisted and unsound, we must take Justice Thomas — and the extremist movement behind him — at their word," it added.
I’m proud to protect marriage as one of my last acts as speaker, @SpeakerPelosi writes in a guest opinion. https://t.co/sVGJ2i4zki pic.twitter.com/JzfpzPtWs5
— Washington Post Opinions (@PostOpinions) December 7, 2022
Thursday, Pelosi called the act "a major victory for freedom, dignity and equality by enshrining into federal law marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples."
Join @SenSchumer, Members of @LGBTEqCaucus, advocates and me at the U.S. Capitol to sign the Respect for Marriage Act, a major victory for freedom, dignity and equality by enshrining into federal law marriage equality for same sex and interracial couples. https://t.co/dDlvZiczxd
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 8, 2022
The bill passed 258-169 along party lines, with Democrats supporting, along with 39 Republicans. The bill further codifies same-sex marriage rights, as well as provisions for interracial marriage.
The act was previously passed in the Senate with 61 votes, passing the supermajority needed to move forward.
My amendment simply prohibits the Federal Government from retaliating against schools, businesses, and organizations because of their religious beliefs about same-sex marriage.
That is all it does. pic.twitter.com/xBdUiiybWA
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 29, 2022
The Senate bill included the support of 12 GOP senators, despite an effort by Utah's Sen. Mike Lee (R) to add an amendment to protect religious objections.
"My amendment simply prohibits the Federal Government from retaliating against schools, businesses, and organizations because of their religious beliefs about same-sex marriage," Lee wrote last week. The amendment was unsuccessful ahead of the Senate vote.
