The House Passes ‘Respect For Marriage Act’ That Protects Same-Sex and Interracial Marriages

The House passed a bill that protects same-sex and interracial marriages.

On Tuesday, the House passed the Respect For Marriage Act, which protects marriage equality by repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The bill was passed with 267-157, with 47 Republicans joining every Democrat voting in favor of the bill.

The vote came after a concurring opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas. Thomas suggested that the Supreme Court reconsider its decisions surrounding same-sex marriages and access to contraception.

“In the future, we should reconsider all of this court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell,” Thomas wrote.

In addition, the House also passed the Rights To Contraception Act on Thursday. The bill will create a statutory right for people to access birth control. It also protects a range of contraceptive methods and ensures health care providers a right to provide contraception services to patients.

“House Democrats are not waiting for elections to protect our rights and freedom,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted. “We’re fighting NOW to keep abortion and birth control legal and stop corporate price gouging. We won’t let Republicans crush our rights and pad corporate pockets on our watch.”

The bill passed with a 228-195 vote with limited debate and no amendments. If the Senate passes the legislation, the bill will create a federal right to obtaining contraception.