House passes bill protecting same-sex marriage

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would codify same-sex marriage into law. The final vote tally on the bill was 267-157. 47 Republicans joined the 220 House Democrats in voting in favor of the bill.

The bill will now be sent to the Senate where it will require 10 Republicans to vote with the Democrats to satisfy the criteria of the filibuster’s 60-vote requirement.

A filibuster is any use of obstructive tactics that would prevent a bill or measure from coming to a vote.

According to CNN, the bill, called “The Respect For Marriage Act,” was introduced by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY). The objectives of the bill are to offer federal protections for both same-sex marriages along with interracial marriages. The bill also provides legal protection against discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, religion, and origin.

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), the House Majority Leader, made a statement ahead of the vote. “It is critical to ensure that federal law protects those whose constitutional rights might be threatened by Republican-controlled state legislatures. LGBTQ Americans and those in interracial marriages deserve to have certainty that they will continue to have their right to equal marriage recognized, no matter where they live.”

A Republican source reportedly informed CNN that their members would not be encouraged to vote against the bill. As noted by The Associated Press, GOP members who were not in favor of the bill did speak up.

“We are here for a political charade, we are here for political messaging,” said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH).

“I’m probably not inclined to support it,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MI) said of the bill. “The predicate of this is just wrong. I don’t think the supreme court is going to overturn any of that stuff.”

“I don’t see anything behind this right now other than, you know, election year politics,” Sen. John Thune (R-SD) said.

Several people on Twitter hit out at the Republicans who voted against the bill. White Flag host Joe Walsh said: “The political winds on same sex marriage changed overnight. Obama opposed it until 2012. Hillary opposed it until 2013. It became the law of the land in 2015. Most of us then lovingly embraced it. So it’s stunning that 157 House Republicans would vote against it today. In 2022.”

The writer of Mrs. Doubtfire angrily Tweeted: “Name them. Name the 157 Republicans who voted against a bill to codify same sex marriage. Name them every single f**king day.”