Hi,

Marriage equality is under threat. The House of Representatives took a big step towards protecting the right to marriage for people of all genders and races when it passed the Respect for Marriage Act.1

The Senate needs to follow suit.  

Sign the petition: The Senate must pass the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation to protect marriage equality in the face of threats from the far-right Supreme Court!

Justice Clarence Thomas signaled that the Supreme Court could overturn marriage equality and the right to access contraception. It would be a grave mistake not to take him seriously. 

When the Supreme Court overturned the right to abortion in its devastating Dobbs ruling, Clarence Thomas wrote: “we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell.”2

In other words, he wants to apply the same terrible reasoning that struck down Roe to the landmark cases that protect contraception, the right to a consensual partner of the same sex, and marriage equality.

Congress needs to spring into action immediately and pass laws specifically protecting the equal right to marriage and contraception nationwide. 

Fortunately, legislation protecting marriage equality has good momentum in Congress. The Respect for Marriage Act would codify marriage equality and repeal the Defense of Marriage Act: a 1990s law that allows states to outlaw same-sex marriages.

The House cleared the bill  — with a surprising degree of Republican support.1 It’s clear that there’s a path forward in the Senate too — if leadership gets serious. There’s no other option: the Senate must protect the fundamental rights of all Americans!

Sign the petition: The Senate must protect marriage equality by passing the Respect for Marriage Act! 

Thanks for taking action,

Izzi and the team at Demand Progress

Sources:

  1. New York Times, “Same-Sex Marriage Bill, Considered Dead on Arrival, Gains New Life,” July 20, 2022.
  2. The Hill, “Thomas calls for overturning precedents on contraceptives, LGBTQ rights,” June 24, 2022.

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