LCLAA Applauds the Passage of the Respect for Marriage Act

Washington, DC - LCLAA applauds Congress and President Biden on the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, a monumental bill that enforces the legality of sex-same, interracial, and interethnic marriages and repeals the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

The action taken  is much needed as the courts continue to attack, threaten, and strip away rights, and as we have seen, policymakers around the country vilify LGBTQ+ individuals and children. From coast to coast, local and state politicians have introduced bills limiting access to youth sports, and banning acknowledgment and representation of the queer community. Policymakers continue to other LGBTQ+ individuals, fully aware that this constant exclusion leads to the high suicide and depression rates of queer individuals and encourages hate-driven violence.

By recognizing same-sex marriages “for the purposes of any Federal law, rule, or regulation is which marital status is a factor,” this bill codifies the right of same-sex couples to receive the same benefits as other marriages, including Social Security, healthcare, and immigration rights. 

The passage of the Respect for Marriage Act is a victory for people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and their allies, but it is not enough. The bill would not prevent states from refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in the case that Obergefell v. Hodges is overturned. 

Yanira Merino, National President of the Labor Council of Latin American Advancement, on the passage of the bill: “The consequences of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policies are life and death, as we tragically saw weeks ago in Colorado and years ago in Florida. This passage is a step towards progress, but the labor movement has learned from the Dobbs decision that the time for action is now. We cannot wait until it is up for the courts to throw our rights into uncertainty. We cannot let history repeat itself. We have to take it upon ourselves to push the next session of Congress to issue legal backing to the federal right to same-sex marriage.”