Senator’s bipartisan legislation ensures marriage protections for all couples, protects and respects religious liberties
Senator worked with religious groups, LGBTQ advocates, business groups, and local leaders to shape this historic, bipartisan legislation
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act is headed to the President’s desk after earning strong bipartisan passage in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.
Sinema’s bipartisan legislation ensures same-sex couples are afforded the same protections as all marriages while protecting and respecting religious liberties.
“We’re one step closer to our bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act securing into law marriage and religious protections for all Americans. I look forward to seeing it signed into law by the President to bring certainty and peace of mind to countless loving marriages,” said Sinema.
Before Congress passed Sinema’s bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act, Sinema delivered a Senate Floor speech on this historic legislation. Click HERE to watch.
Sinema’s bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act requires the federal government to recognize a marriage between two individuals if the marriage was valid in the state it was performed. Additionally, Sinema’s bipartisan legislation guarantees that valid marriages between two individuals are given full faith and credit, regardless of the couple’s sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. The bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act protects all religious liberty and conscience protections available under the Constitution or federal law. Click HERE for a one-page summary of Sinema’s bill and HERE for the full text.
Sinema partnered with U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) to earn strong bipartisan support for the Respect for Marriage Act. Sinema built a diverse and inclusive coalition of religious groups – notably, The Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints – business groups, LGBTQ advocates, and other partners to earn support.
In 2006, Sinema led the effort to successfully defeat Proposition 107, which would have banned same-sex marriages in Arizona and negatively impacted unmarried couples, common law marriages, and domestic partnerships. This was the first successful defeat of a ballot proposition involving LGBTQ rights in the nation.