The Respect for Marriage Act, HR 8404, introduced by Rep. Jerry Nadler, is meant not only to codify the right to same-sex marriage but to provide federal protections for interracial marriages.
After passing in the House, The Respect for Marriage Act is on its way to the Senate. In order for it to pass the Senate, at least 10 Republicans must vote yes for Democrats to overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold. The House voted to codify the right to contraception on July 21 as part of a burst of legislation in direct response to alarming statements by Justice Clarence Thomas in the Dobbs ruling overturning abortion as a constitutional right.
If approved by the Senate, this bill would protect both Loving v. Virginia and Obergefell v. Hodges from being overruled by the high court. The bill would require federal law to recognize any marriage that was legal in the state where it took place.
In order to help codify the rights of same-sex and interracial marriage, please contact your senator and urge a yes vote on the Respect for Marriage Act.
