This week, President Joe Biden celebrated the second anniversary of the Respect for Marriage Act, a law that essentially replaced the terms “man” and “woman” with “individuals” in federal marriage definitions. Biden hailed the act as a “landmark civil rights bill” in a post on X on Friday.
Congress summarizes the Respect for Marriage Act as providing federal recognition for same-sex and interracial marriages, officially codifying protections established by previous Supreme Court rulings. Specifically, the act replaces provisions defining marriage as between a man and a woman with language recognizing any marriage valid under state law. It also prohibits states from denying recognition of out-of-state same-sex or interracial marriages based on sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.
Despite the 2015 Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, Democrats pushed the Respect for Marriage Act to reinforce those protections and eliminate gendered terminology in the law. Critics view the legislation as a symbolic move rather than a substantive one.
For President Biden, celebrating the act’s anniversary underscores a broader focus on LGBTQ issues during his administration. However, it also highlights criticism that his priorities have placed an outsized emphasis on identity politics over addressing key issues impacting everyday Americans, such as immigration, crime, or inflation.
As Biden prepares to leave office, his celebration of this legislation appears to signal what his administration considers a key achievement, though critics argue it reflects misplaced priorities over broader national concerns.
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