Amid fanfare, President Biden signs legislation legalizing same-sex unions
In front of a bipartisan throng that shows the rising acceptance of same-sex partnerships, President Joe Biden signed gay marriage legislation on Tuesday and welcomed thousands to celebrate at the White House.
A right-wing pushback over gender problems, which has concerned homosexual and transgender people and their defenders, played out against the triumphal mood.
If the U.S. Supreme Court ever overturns Obergefell v. Hodges, its 2015 ruling that made same-sex unions legal nationwide, the new law is meant to protect gay marriages. The new law also safeguards inter-racial unions. In Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court invalidated interracial marriage bans in 16 states. This occurred in 1967.
Millions of marriages and families now feel a little more secure thanks to Congress, Biden said in a statement after the bill was approved last week. They have also given millions of young people in this country hope and dignity so that they can grow up knowing that their government will respect the families they create.
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that made abortion accessible nationwide, in June ignited a months-long bipartisan push that culminated with the signing.
Justice Clarence Thomas expressed concern that more civil rights could be threatened by the court’s conservative majority in a concurring opinion in the case that overturned Roe and urged reviewing other rulings, such as the legalization of gay marriage.
In order to allay conservative worries about religious freedom, lawmakers came up with a solution that still allows churches to refuse to officiate gay weddings.
States will also not be obligated to grant same-sex couples marriage licenses. However, they will have to accept unions that take place outside of the nation.
Even so, the majority of Republicans in Congress opposed the bill. However, it received enough support to avoid a filibuster in the Senate and succeed.
Together, we demonstrated that Democrats and Republicans can work together to defend our most basic liberties, added Biden.
The ceremony on Tuesday will add a new chapter to Biden’s history on homosexual rights.
In a memorable — and unexpected — television interview from 2012, when he was vice president, he supported same-sex unions. A few days later, President Barack Obama declared his support for gay marriage as well.
A card recalling Biden’s remarks from his interview from 2012 will be distributed to attendees.
Who do you love? is the central question in all of this. On “Meet the Press” on NBC, Biden said ten years ago. “Who do you love, and will you be devoted to them? And people are learning that all marriages are fundamentally about that.
Since taking office, Biden has stopped President Donald Trump from removing protections for transgender persons from the law. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the first openly homosexual Cabinet member, and Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine, the first transgender person to obtain Senate confirmation, are both part of his cabinet.
