Opinion
By George Miller
So-called “MainStream” Media are soft-pedaling the House’s Orwellian-named “Respect for Marriage” Act (HR 8404), which could soon come to a final Senate vote and likely Biden approval without being much-vetted by the public or even some of our representatives. In fact, the Senate just voted 62- 37 to clear cloture, meaning that it will go to a final Senate vote and likely pass. 12 Republicans also voted for this radical bill, which repeals a previous law defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
It was sold as an “equality” bill to “protect rights.” It would do some of that but treads heavily upon others’ rights. The bill greatly overreaches in several areas:
- Repeals Defense of Marriage Act defining marriage as between a man and a woman, a model which has endured for thousands of years across most cultures
- Forces all states to honor all “marriages” regardless of the originating jurisdiction
- It could be used to help force federally funded schools to accommodate gender ideology in all school activities and programs.
- It could require federal recognition of polygamy
- It even enacts federal criminal penalties for non-compliance
Per the Daily Signal, twelve Republicans voted for advancing the legislation: Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Shelley Capito of West Virginia, Susan Collins of Maine, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Rob Portman of Ohio, Mitt Romney of Utah, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Todd Young of Indiana.
Speak out NOW if you oppose this bill.
117th Congress (2021-2022): Respect for Marriage Act
This was already passed by the House (267-157) by a huge margin back in July with little fanfare and little challenge (read congress.gov section, below)…
Shown Here:
Passed House (07/19/2022)
Respect for Marriage Act
This bill provides statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages.
Specifically, the bill repeals and replaces provisions that define, for purposes of federal law, marriage as between a man and a woman and spouse as a person of the opposite sex with provisions that recognize any marriage that is valid under state law. (The Supreme Court held that the current provisions were unconstitutional in United States v. Windsor in 2013.)
The bill also repeals and replaces provisions that do not require states to recognize same-sex marriages from other states with provisions that prohibit the denial of full faith and credit or any right or claim relating to out-of-state marriages on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. (The Supreme Court held that state laws barring same-sex marriages were unconstitutional in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015; the Court held that state laws barring interracial marriages were unconstitutional in Loving v. Virginia in 1967.) The bill allows the Department of Justice to bring a civil action and establishes a private right of action for violations.
Shown Here:
Passed House (07/19/2022)
Respect for Marriage Act
This bill provides statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages.
Specifically, the bill repeals and replaces provisions that define, for purposes of federal law, marriage as between a man and a woman and spouse as a person of the opposite sex with provisions that recognize any marriage that is valid under state law. (The Supreme Court held that the current provisions were unconstitutional in United States v. Windsor in 2013.)
The bill also repeals and replaces provisions that do not require states to recognize same-sex marriages from other states with provisions that prohibit the denial of full faith and credit or any right or claim relating to out-of-state marriages on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. (The Supreme Court held that state laws barring same-sex marriages were unconstitutional in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015; the Court held that state laws barring interracial marriages were unconstitutional in Loving v. Virginia in 1967.) The bill allows the Department of Justice to bring a civil action and establishes a private right of action for violations.
Watch House debate on this bill:
House Debate on Marriage Equality Bill | C-SPAN.org
https://www.c-span.org/video/?521803-1/house-votes-267-157-codify-marry-sexual-orientation
Relevant articles:
https://washingtonstand.com/commentary/senate-marriage-bill-declares-war–on-american-parents
https://www.google.com/search?q=respect+for+marriage+act
George Miller is Publisher and Co-Founder of Citizens Journal Florida, based in Fernandina Beach. He is a “retired” operations management consultant, software and publishing executive and manufacturing management professional.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida.
