Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick was among three dozen U.S. House of Representative Republicans who voted Tuesday to protect marriage equality.
The Respect for Marriage Act passed the House in a 267-157 vote that was supported by 47 Republicans and all of the chamber’s Democrats.
Advertisements
The legislation still has to be voted on by the U.S. Senate.
The bill would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which was approved by Congress in a bipartisan manner and was signed into law by the then-President Bill Clinton in 1996. The Defense of Marriage Act recognized marriage as “only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.”
The bill would remove the definition of a spouse as “a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.”
Advertisements
Fitzpatrick, who represents all of Bucks County and part of Montgomery County, did not release a statement following his vote.
The Respect for Marriage Act comes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In his opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas said the decision that impacts abortion rights at the federal level can open the door for reversals of other landmark decisions, including two that protect LGBTQ rights and marriage.
Advertisements
The 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges case protects same-sex marriage as a constitutional right, but there has been concern it could be overturned by the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court and many states could again outlaw same-sex marriage.
Fitzpatrick has taken part in past Pride month events, including the recent New Hope Pride Parade.
Advertisements
Editor’s Note: The story has been updated to fix an error that said the bill would define a spouse as a “person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.” In reality, the bill would remove that definition.
Advertisements
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
