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The Progressive Bill and its Unexpected Allies

While little to no Republicans voted to codify abortion rights or contraception, 47 Republicans voted with Democrats to codify same-sex and interracial marriages in a move that shocked analysts and some of their colleagues. The bill, which is called the Respect for Marriage Act, passed through the House with a 267-157 vote and is now headed to the Senate, where many feel that passage will be tougher. If it was passed, interracial and gay marriage would not only be codified, but it would also be a formal repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which legally defined marriage as between a man and a woman. DOMA was struck down by the Supreme Court some years after its passage but was never officially removed from the books.

Liberal Political Commentary

In polarized eras like this, having bipartisan support behind civil rights bills is becoming increasingly rare and far more valuable. Considering that usually there are only a few members of each party that cross partisan lines, having 47 Republicans vote with Democrats to pass the Respect for Marriage Act isn’t a  minor victory. 

While it’s disheartening that many who voted to codify interracial and same-sex marriage did not join democrats to protect access to contraception and a woman’s right to choose, it’s an incremental step that may lead to more collaboration between parties. We can only hope that Republicans in the Senate share the same sentiments that the 47 in the House did, and can see past partisan loyalty to protect human rights. There is cause to be optimistic seeing as some have already spoken out in support of the bill.

The Respect for Marriage bill might pass and make same-sex marriage and interracial marriage codified into law. According to the New York Times, there was a “narrow bipartisan path for the legislation” that Democrats are looking to push through. It seems there might be a success with the bill given the pressure of midterm elections that the Republicans are under. A recent Gallup poll stated that 71% of Americans are for the legalization of same-sex marriage.

With such a large number of Americans in support, the GOP is only hindered by culturally conservative supporters (Kapur). The GOP has a significant number of evangelical voters, which are the main opponents of same-sex marriage. However, many Republicans have appeared apathetic to the bill given its general acceptance of established forms of marriage. According to Kapur, “Jack Pitney, a professor of political science at Claremont McKenna College, "most Americans support same-sex marriage. Even a majority of self-identified Republicans support it. But Evangelicals represent a huge share of GOP activists, and they still oppose it.” Therefore, some Republicans have referred to the bill as a waste of time and cited the need for legislation for other issues. There is no general trend amongst Conservatives, and it seems the GOP is split about the bill. This could prove favourable for Democrats who already have 30 of the 60 votes needed from Republicans to have the bill pass in the senate.

I’m proud to say that for one vote, our House of Representatives didn’t resemble a dystopia. I never would’ve expected that any amount of over 10 Republicans would vote to protect gay marriage, let alone almost 50. However, after reflecting further, I realized how sad it is that we’re celebrating 1/4 of Republicans supporting basic human rights when the rest didn’t. How have we got to a point where we’re patting our leaders on the back for doing what is right?

As someone who is affected by whether the Respect for Marriage Act is codified, I can tell you that it’s demoralizing to constantly have your basic rights up for debate, and to have your leaders vote against them— no matter how many do.

It is indeed a victory that 47 Republicans voted to pass the bill, but it should have been more. Some cited the reasoning of “it’s not necessary” or “it’s just a distraction” even after Justice Clarence Thomas said that other cases relying on privacy should be reconsidered, even mentioning Obergefell v Hodges (gay marriage) by name. They know that there is a clear and present danger, but they voted against it anyway and then lied about their reasoning. Somehow, they went below the bare minimum once again and once again, no one is surprised. 

One final note on the Republicans who crossed partisan lines— I hope for the sake of American democracy that they are the future of the Republican Party. There may just be light at the end of the tunnel if they can steer the party away from populist and far-right influence.

Written by Ashlyn Hill

The separation of Church and State is an idea that is foundational to the United States of America. The Respect for Marriage bill would be the ultimate embodiment of this since it would put to rest the legal ability for States to ignore this core value that the founding Fathers formed our government around. While currently, the Supreme Court has not overthrown Obergefell v. Hodges, the case that was responsible for the federal recognition of same-sex marriage, it was mentioned in their previous decision that overthrew Roe v. Wade. The codifying of the law would prevent an overly biased supreme court from making a decision to further set back the United States. While many Republicans have remained apathetic on the issue that does not reflect the overwhelming support Americans have for same-sex marriage. Not codifying it would be the height of hubris for senators who think Obergefell v. Hodges is safe. If Roe v. Wade taught us anything it is not to presume any previous Supreme Court decisions are safe. This Supreme Court has shown its hand with the mention of reviewing several cases that have already been decided and it is pertinent for Congress to be precautious and codify laws that are no longer controversial and merely a basic tenet of American life.

Written by Alexis Walker

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