Scott Votes to Protect Marriage Equality

Statement

Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), a member of the LGBTQ Equality Caucus, issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 8404, the Respect for Marriage Act:

"The U.S. Supreme Court's disastrous decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization upended 50 years of legal precedent and rolled back the rights of women all over the country. Justice Thomas released a disturbing concurring opinion where he made it clear that the right to marriage equality should also be reversed by the Court. That is why I co-sponsored and voted for the Respect for Marriage Act which would guarantee protections for same-sex marriage which were granted by the Court's 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. The legislation also repeals the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which I was proud to have voted against in 1996; it prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriage and was overturned by the Court's previous decisions in 2013 with United States v. Windsor and 2015 in Obergefell. If those decisions are reversed, the prohibitions on same-sex marriages would be reinstated.

"We cannot stand idly by while Republican-controlled state legislatures and institutions continue to systematically attack rights and freedoms all over the country. It was extremely disappointing to see the majority of House Republicans vote against this bill and against the freedoms and progress Americans have enjoyed for many years now. I will continue to be a steadfast ally of the LGBTQ+ community and I urge the Senate to quickly pass this legislation and send it to President Biden's desk so we can protect freedom and marriage equality."

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