Respect for Marriage Act

On December 13, 2022, the Respect for Marriage Act was passed into United States law. The Respect for Marriage Act requires all states to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and protect marriages at the federal level. This act is a big step for those in the LGBTQ+ community, and it effectively repeals the Defense of Marriage Act which was passed in 1996. The Defense of Marriage Act only allowed federal recognition of marriages between a man and a woman, ignoring marriages of same-sex. The Defense of Marriage Act was targeted at those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community to deprive them of equal human rights. The Respect for Marriage Act addresses this and efficiently establishes equal rights for same-sex marriages to ensure equality and no discrimination based on sexual orientation. To officially make it a law, the bill needed to pass through both the Senate and the House of Representatives. With 258-169-1 vote, the Respect for Marriage Act was passed with a majority in favor of equality for all people. Overall, this new act is a great step towards equality of human rights and quite beneficial for our society.