The Senate approved the Law of Respect for Marriage, with which same-sex marriage equality will be achieved in federal law, and which continued to advance thanks to the fact that 12 Republicans joined the Democrats to reach the vote. Now a group of senators have signed a letter urging their colleagues to support an amendment that would help remove protections against discrimination in the bill.
When the bill comes to a vote on the full Senate, the 12 Republican senators; Susan Collins, Rob Portman, Thom Tillis, Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, Roy Blunt, Richard Burr, Shelley Moore, Cynthia Lummis, Dan Sullivan, Todd Young, Joni Ernst, would help ensure the filibuster passes and becomes law.
The bill would officially repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 law that prohibited the federal government from legally recognizing same-sex marriages. Instead, the law would require the federal and state governments to recognize gay marriages in states where they are legal.
One of those who did not sign the bill was Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who argued: “I just voted against the Respect for Marriage Act that is supposed to protect gay marriage without creating risks to religious freedom and religious institutions.”
This time it was the senator Mike Lee of Utah introduced an amendment that would “ensure that federal bureaucrats do not discriminate against individuals.”organizations, and other entities based on their sincerely held religious beliefs about gay marriage by prohibiting or denying the revocation of tax exemptions, licenses, contracts, benefits, etc.”
Lee along with 21 senators signed a letter which was addressed to the 12 Republican senators who supported the bill asking them to oppose the Respect Marriage Act unless Mike Lee’s amendment is added.
The letter is signed by the Republican senators: Mike Lee from ohio, marco rubio from Florida, from Texas ted cross, Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, from Missouri josh hawley, rick scott from Florida.
As well as; Mike Braun (IN), Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS), John Cornyn (TX), Rand Paul (KY), John Thune (SD), Ron Johnson (WI), Marsha Blackburn (TN), Tommy Tuberville (AL), Kevin Cramen (ND), John Boozman (AR), Roger Mashall (KS), roger wicker (MS), James Risch (ID), and Tom Cotton (AR).
According to the information since the bill advanced in its pages, all the protections of conscience and religious freedom are guaranteed. The gay marriage law will have a new vote after spending the days off for Thanksgiving.
It is important to mention that approximately six in ten adults (61%) express a positive opinion about the impact of same-sex marriage being legal, including 36% who say it is very good for society.
Source: La Opinion
