Congresswoman Sara Jacobs Votes to Pass the Respect for Marriage Act
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) voted today to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which would preserve marriage equality. In response to Justice Clarence Thomas’ concurrent opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson that opens the door for overturning Obergefell v. Hodges, Congresswoman Jacobs helped pass legislation that will repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, protect the right of marriage for all, and provide additional legal protections for marriage equality given continued attacks from Republican electeds in statehouses across the country.
“Last weekend, I officiated my brother’s wedding, and today, I proudly voted in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act — to honor his and so many other marriages that have been created and affirmed in the seven years since the landmark Obergefell ruling,” said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. “Justice Thomas said the quiet part out loud, boasting that the radical, right-wing Supreme Court will target and tear down marriage equality next. But we won’t go back. I’m grateful that we’re taking this threat seriously and proud that the House proactively passed these protections today.”
The Respect for Marriage Act would:
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Repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act. Although this law was rendered inert by the Supreme Court’s marriage equality decisions, it remains on the books. Enacting the Respect for Marriage Act would finally erase the discriminatory law from the U.S. code.
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Protect marriage equality by ensuring that – for federal purposes – people are considered married if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed.
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Provide additional protections at the state level by prohibiting any person acting under state law from denying full faith and credit to an out-of-state marriage based on the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of the people in the marriage.