USA: Bill to recognise same-sex marriages passed

The bill ensuring the recognition of same-sex marriages at the federal level was also approved by the House of Representatives today, following its passage in the Senate last month.

US President Joe Biden has pledged to ratify the law without delay.

The promotion of the Respect for Marriage Act was deemed necessary after fears were expressed that the Supreme Court would review a previous ruling on this issue, as it did in June on abortion. The Supreme Court, which is dominated by conservative justices, also appears poised to vindicate certain businesses that refuse to serve same-sex couples, citing freedom of expression. A decision on this issue is likely to be announced this summer.

The bill had the support of the LGBTQ+ community, but also of several religious organizations and institutions, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, although many American conservatives still oppose gay marriage because, they say, it is contrary to biblical scripture.

However, a large majority of Americans, including Republicans, support these marriages.

The law adopted today repeals earlier provisions defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman and prohibits public officials in all states from discriminating «on the basis of the sex, race, nationality or origin» of the couple.

All Democratic members and 39 Republicans voted in favour. 169 Republican Members voted against it. «I think it's the wrong way,» said Congressman Jim Jordan, who is close to former President Donald Trump.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who will give up her seat next month, expressed her joy because «one of the last laws» she will sign in her capacity as president protects these associations. Moments before the vote began, Pelosi paid tribute to Harvey Mill, the first California city councilman to openly declare he was gay and was assassinated in 1978. «One day, he told his supporters, »I've tasted freedom, I'm not going back,«» he said. "Today, the House stands proudly on the side of the forces of freedom against a return to the past," he added.