LANSING — Today, after 5 of Michigan Republicans in Congress voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which, once signed by President Biden, will enshrine marriage equality protections into federal law, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnesreleased the following statement:
“Today’s vote from Michigan Republicans shows once again just how out of step they are with Michiganders. While Reps. Bergman, Huizenga, McClain, Moolenaar, and Walberg refuse to support protections for Americans’ right to marry who they love, Democrats will always fight to protect our fundamental freedoms.”
In total, 169 of GOP representatives and 36 GOP senators voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, despite vast public support for marriage equality — including among a majority of Republicans.
Gallup: “Same-Sex Marriage Support Inches Up to New High of 71%”
Let’s be clear — this is nothing new for Republicans. Fundamental freedoms like marriage equality could be at risk because conservative justices have called Americans’ rights into question.
POLITICO: “Justice Clarence Thomas argued in a concurring opinion released on Friday that the Supreme Court ‘should reconsider’ its past rulings codifying rights to contraception access, same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage.”
NPR: “The push to codify marriage rights with the Respect for Marriage Act comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which held that access to abortion was not a Constitutional right. Justice Clarence Thomas noted in his concurring opinion that the rationale used to overturn Roe v. Wade could be used to overturn cases establishing other rights. This led advocates to fear that same-sex and interracial marriage might be next.”
Congressional Republicans have made clear that for them, MAGA extremism is the party line. But it is also clear that their extreme, anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ+ agenda is wildly out of step with the American people.
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