Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández voted to protect everyone’s right to marry who they love and send the Respect for Marriage Act to President Biden’s desk. 

This landmark legislation defends marriage equality, upholds couples’ rights to equal protection under federal law, and requires states to recognize valid out-of-state marriages. 

“Today, I was honored to protect marriage equality, because the federal government should never stand in the way of marrying the person you love,” said Rep. Leger Fernández. “Who you marry is up to your heart. As a member of the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, I truly believe that love must always be equal. The Respect for Marriage Act protects same-sex and interracial marriage nationwide. Bigotry has no place in America. Today, love won.”

The Respect for Marriage Act takes several steps to protect same-sex and interracial marriages:

• Repeals the “Defense of Marriage Act”: While the Supreme Court effectively voided DOMA in 2013, this unconstitutional and discriminatory federal law remained on the books.  The Respect for Marriage Act repeals this statute once and for all.

• Enshrines Marriage Equality Into Federal Law: This legislation upholds married couples’ right to equal protection in all areas covered under federal law, such as Social Security, tax filings and veterans benefits.

• Bans Discrimination By State Officials: This legislation prohibits state officials from denying recognition of an out-of-state marriage on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.

Previously passed by the House earlier this year, the Respect for Marriage Act was amended and advanced by the Senate last week.  With today’s vote in the House, the final bill now heads to President Biden’s desk for his signature.

The Respect for Marriage Act is strongly supported by leading advocacy organizations, including the ACLU, Center for American Progress, Equality Federation, Family Equality, Freedom for All Americans, GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Women’s Law Center, and PFLAG.

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