Republicans Split on Push To Codify Same-Sex Marriage Into Law

In 2015, the Supreme Court drastically redefined the institution of marriage. Now, liberals in Congress are pushing to codify it.

What does the bill do? The “Respect for Marriage Act” (RFMA) seeks to codify the verdict made by the Supreme Court in their decision on Obergefell v. Hodges into federal law. The ruling, declared in 2015, forced all states and religious institutions to redefine the institution of matrimony and recognize same-sex relationships.

Why is this bill being pushed? Last month, with the Supreme Court verdict overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas signaled that future justices should reconsider the past Supreme Court’s same-sex decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. RFMA acts as a "safety net" for this redefinition of marriage in the case that Obergefell v. Hodges is overturned.

Some Republicans support the bill. Since nearly 70 percent of Americans are not opposed to redefining marriage to include same-sex couples, some Republicans in competitive areas favor the bill. Those in favor have argued that the legislation does not impose on the rights of religious individuals to abstain from same-sex marriage. Additionally, many have supported the bill, as it does not create any new precedent, only codifies and upholds the verdict made in Obergefell v. Hodges.

Calls for opposition: There’s a slew of different opinions that oppose codifying same-sex marriage. Some believe it’s a state-level issue that the federal government shouldn’t interfere with. Others stick with the belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. And others view same-sex marriage as a slippery slope that has culminated in the current transgender ideology permeating schools and child education.