Congress passes law protecting same-sex marriage
(Washington) The US Congress on Thursday passed a law protecting same-sex marriage across the United States, fearing a backsliding by the Supreme Court on the matter.
US President Joe Biden welcomed in a statement an "essential measure, to guarantee Americans the right to marry the person they love".
According to him, this vote will "bring peace of mind to the millions of LGBTQI couples" and interethnic couples who now have the rights and protections due to them and their children.
Unions between gay and lesbian people have been guaranteed by the U.S. Supreme Court since 2015. But after the high court's historic about-face on abortion in June, many progressives fear that this right will also be unravelled.
Read "Denial of service to LGBTQ+ people debated at the Supreme Court"Already, the temple of law seems ready to allow some American businesses to refuse to serve same-sex couples, in the name of freedom of expression. It could decide in this direction as early as this summer.
Support from the majority of AmericansA large majority of Americans support same-sex marriage, including in Republican ranks. But the religious right remains mostly opposed to it.
The law passed in the U.S. Congress repeals previous legislation defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. And prohibits civil registrars — regardless of the state in which they work — from discriminating against couples
"because of their gender, race, ethnicity or origin."
It was voted by all elected Democrats and 39 Republicans. 169 members of the Grand Old Party opposed it.
"I think that's the wrong way to go," said Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, a close associate of former President Donald Trump.
The bill, dubbed the Respect for Marriage Act, was approved by the Senate last week.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will descend from the perch in January, rejoiced that "one of the last laws"
she will sign as "Speaker" protects these types of unions.
In the Chamber, minutes before the vote, she paid tribute to Harvey Milk, California's first openly gay city councillor,
who was assassinated in 1978.
"He once told his supporters +I tasted freedom, I won't go back+," she said.
"Today, the House stands proudly alongside the forces of freedom, against going back," she said.
US President Joe Biden welcomed in a statement an "essential measure, to guarantee Americans the right to marry the person they love".
According to him, this vote will "bring peace of mind to the millions of LGBTQI couples" and interethnic couples who now have the rights and protections due to them and their children.
Unions between gay and lesbian people have been guaranteed by the U.S. Supreme Court since 2015. But after the high court's historic about-face on abortion in June, many progressives fear that this right will also be unravelled.
Read "Denial of service to LGBTQ+ people debated at the Supreme Court"Already, the temple of law seems ready to allow some American businesses to refuse to serve same-sex couples, in the name of freedom of expression. It could decide in this direction as early as this summer.
Support from the majority of AmericansA large majority of Americans support same-sex marriage, including in Republican ranks. But the religious right remains mostly opposed to it.
The law passed in the U.S. Congress repeals previous legislation defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. And prohibits civil registrars — regardless of the state in which they work — from discriminating against couples
"because of their gender, race, ethnicity or origin."
It was voted by all elected Democrats and 39 Republicans. 169 members of the Grand Old Party opposed it.
"I think that's the wrong way to go," said Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, a close associate of former President Donald Trump.
The bill, dubbed the Respect for Marriage Act, was approved by the Senate last week.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will descend from the perch in January, rejoiced that "one of the last laws"
she will sign as "Speaker" protects these types of unions.
In the Chamber, minutes before the vote, she paid tribute to Harvey Milk, California's first openly gay city councillor,
who was assassinated in 1978.
"He once told his supporters +I tasted freedom, I won't go back+," she said.
"Today, the House stands proudly alongside the forces of freedom, against going back," she said.
CAMILLE CAMDESSUS
PRESS FRANCE AGENCY
Congress passes law protecting same-sex marriage | The Press (lapresse.ca)
PRESS FRANCE AGENCY
Congress passes law protecting same-sex marriage | The Press (lapresse.ca)
