The Respect for Marriage Act

By: Emma Simon

The Respect for Marriage Act establishes federal recognition for same-sex and interracial marriages and is the first approved federal protection for same-sex marriage. On December 13th, President Biden signed the act in a triumphant White House celebration. This act overturned the 1996 Defense for Marriage Act, which prohibited the federal government from recognizing homosexual marriage. Same-sex marriage was made legal in 2015 following Obergefell v. Hodges. However, the overturning of Roe v. Wade over the summer has pulled into question many other landmark Supreme Court decisions, such as same-sex marriage. The new law requires that the federal government and all states recognize marriages that occurred in states where the union is legal. The act also cements protections for interracial couples.