The U.S. House of Representatives will vote today to protect same-sex and interracial marriages after the Supreme Court struck down the Roe v. Wade abortion protection last month.
The controversial June 24 decision by the justices has set off warnings that other rights enjoyed by countless Americans may be in jeopardy.
This vote is part of a political strategy that will force all lawmakers, Republican and Democrat, to go on the record with their positions on this important issue.
Will the new bill stall in the Senate?
It is also seen as a signal from the legislature to assert its authority in the face of a Supreme Court that seems to want to review and throw out many laws already in place.
Although the Respect for Marriage Act is expected to pass in the House, it will most likely stall in the Senate, where it would be blocked by the Republican majority.
What would the Respect for Marriage Act do?
If passed, it would repeal the remnant of a law that defines marriage as a heterosexual relationship between a man and a woman.
In addition, it would grant legal protections for interracial marriages by prohibiting any state from denying marriage licenses and benefits on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or background.
The Defense of Marriage Act had been sidelined by court rulings issued during Barack Obama’s presidency, including the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, which established the rights of same-sex couples to marry nationwide, a landmark for gay rights, notes AP.
However, it regained prominence with the Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, and created fears that other rights could be lost.
