Respect for Marriage Act

Respect for Marriage Act

This act provides statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages.

Specifically, the act replaces provisions that define, for purposes of federal law, marriage as between a man and a woman and spouse as a person of the opposite sex with provisions that recognize any marriage between two individuals that is valid under state law. (The Supreme Court held that the current provisions were unconstitutional in United States v. Windsor in 2013.)

The act also replaces provisions that do not require states to recognize same-sex marriages from other states with provisions that prohibit the denial of full faith and credit or any right or claim relating to out-of-state marriages on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. (The Supreme Court held that state laws barring same-sex marriages were unconstitutional in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015; the Court held that state laws barring interracial marriages were unconstitutional in Loving v. Virginia in 1967.) The act allows the Department of Justice to bring a civil action and establishes a private right of action for violations.

The act does not (1) affect religious liberties or conscience protections that are available under the Constitution or federal law, (2) require religious organizations to provide goods or services to formally recognize or celebrate a marriage, (3) affect any benefits or rights that do not arise from a marriage, or (4) recognize under federal law any marriage between more than two individuals.

The Respect for Marriage Act, also known as Bill 117 hr 8404, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main purpose of this bill is to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which was passed in 1996 and defined marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman.

If passed, the Respect for Marriage Act would recognize same-sex marriages at the federal level, allowing couples to receive the same benefits and protections as heterosexual couples. This would include access to Social Security benefits, tax benefits, and immigration rights.

The bill has received support from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, who argue that it is a step towards equality and fairness for all couples, regardless of their sexual orientation. Opponents of the bill, however, argue that marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman, and that the federal government should not interfere with state laws on marriage. Overall, the Respect for Marriage Act is a controversial piece of legislation that has the potential to have a significant impact on the rights and recognition of same-sex couples in the United States. It is currently being debated in Congress, and its future remains uncertain.