Bipartisan Marriage Equality Vote Marks a Breakthrough
The House passage of the Respect for Marriage Act underscores that Congress, not the courts, is where social issues should be debated.
The House recognizes gay marriage.
Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America
By a vote of 267 to 157, the House of Representatives last week passed the Respect for Marriage Act, which declares that marriages performed in one state must be recognized in all states, without respect to “sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.” It also codifies same-sex marriages for the purpose of benefits under federal law.
The legislation still needs to get through the Senate, which is unlikely before the August recess. Nonetheless, the House’s move to provide federal recognition of gay marriages — with the support of 47 Republicans — is a breakthrough worth celebrating. In addition to validating the country’s progress on gay rights, the vote signals that lawmakers may finally be embracing their responsibility to tackle social issues through the legislative process, rather than leaving the task to the courts.