麻豆社

The US House of Representatives has approved landmark legislation providing federal protection to both same-sex and inter-racial marriage. The Respect for Marriage Act had previously received bi-partisan support in the Senate - and will shortly be signed into law by President Biden.

It all seems to mark a significant cultural shift on an issue once considered politically divisive. Back in 2015 the Supreme court legalised same sex marriage and also inter-racial marriages. But Democrats in particular are concerned the Supreme Court could try to quash marriage equality as they did the right to an abortion.

麻豆社 Newsday heard from Ritchie Torres, Democratic Representative for New York's 15th District - the first Afro-Latino LGBTQ Member of Congress who presided over the House debate on the new legislation.

"We're not legislating in a vacuum. The Respect for Marriage Act comes as a response to right-wing judicial activism of the Supreme Court. Instead of waiting passively and allowing our rights to be stripped away we have chosen to protect those rights under federal law."

(Pic: Speaker Nancy Pelosi signs "The Respect for Marriage Act" alongside fellow members of Congress; Credit: Reuters)

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