Washington, DC — Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) voted to send the Respect for Marriage Act to President Biden’s desk. This landmark legislation takes several key steps to defend marriage equality: officially repealing the unconstitutional “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA), upholding couples’ right to equal protection under federal law, and requiring states to recognize valid out-of-state marriages.

“Today, I proudly voted to protect marriage equality in Georgia and across the country. The bipartisan, bicameral Respect for Marriage Act will enshrine marriage equality into federal law and prohibit state officials from discriminating against same-sex and interracial couples,” said McBath. “The Respect for Marriage Act is a historic step forward as we protect those we are tasked with representing. No American should ever face discrimination because of who they are or who they love.”

The Respect for Marriage Act will take several steps to protect the inviolability of same-sex and interracial marriages:

• Repealing the “Defense of Marriage Act”: While the Supreme Court has effectively voided DOMA, this unconstitutional and discriminatory federal law still remains on the books. The Respect for Marriage Act will repeal this statute once and for all.
• Enshrining Marriage Equality Into Federal Law: This legislation will uphold married couples’ right to equal protection in all areas covered under federal law, such as Social Security, tax filings and veterans’ benefits.
• Barring Discrimination By State Officials: This legislation prohibits state officials from denying recognition of an out-of-state marriage on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.

Previously passed by the House earlier this year, the Respect for Marriage Act was amended and advanced by the Senate last week. With today’s vote in the House, the final bill now heads to the President’s desk for his signature. 

The Respect for Marriage Act is strongly supported by leading advocacy organizations, including the ACLU, Center for American Progress, Equality Federation, Family Equality, Freedom for All Americans, GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Women’s Law Center, and PFLAG.