On Wednesday, the Senate voted to move forward the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that will codify same-sex marriage into federal law. The bill was supported by many Republicans in a 62-37 vote, which gave it enough votes to clear the 60-vote filibuster. The GOP senators voting in favor were Roy Blunt, Richard Burr, Shelley Moore Capito, Susan Collins, Joni Ernst, Cynthia Lummis, Lisa Murkowski, Rob Portman, Mitt Romney, Dan Sullivan, Thom Tillis and Todd Young.
Susan Collins, R-Maine, a co-author, also spoke saying the bill recognizes the unique and extraordinary importance of marriage on an individual and societal level,” and touted the bill’s religious liberty and conscious protections.
According to Fox:
Some conservative groups, however, dispute that claim and criticize the bill as “lip service to religious liberty while undermining the First Amendment freedoms available to each of us.”
“Right now, government officials across the country—including the Biden administration—argue in court that individuals and religious organizations who love and work with people from all walks of life should face civil and criminal penalties if they don’t abandon their beliefs on this issue,” Kristen Waggoner CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom said in a statement.
“Make no mistake, this bill will be used by officials and activists to punish and ruin those who do not share the government’s view on marriage,” Waggoner said.
