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Twelve Republican senators joined with all Democrats to pass the bill, which is set to be Joe Biden's first major legislative achievement on LGBT issues.
(LifeSiteNews) –
In perhaps the greatest defeat conservatives have ever suffered at the hands of Republican Party, the Senate today advanced Democrats’ bill to enshrine same-sex “marriage” into federal law in a vote of 62 to 37.
Twelve Republican senators joined with all Democrats to move forward on the bill, “Respect for Marriage Act,” including: Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Rob Portman of Ohio, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Roy Blunt of Missouri, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, and Todd Young of Indiana. Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska did not vote.
Democrats needed the support of 10 Republicans to overcome the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold.
The bill is now on a glide path to final passage, which requires just 51 votes and is likely to come after the Senate’s Thanksgiving recess, CNN reported.
Today’s vote came despite the objections of many of the most prominent conservative groups in the U.S., including the Heritage Foundation and Alliance Defending Freedom, the opposition of thousands of Christian churches and institutions, and the overwhelming majority of Republican voters who oppose federal legislation to codify homosexual “marriage.”
The Respect of Marriage Act makes same-sex “marriage” the law of the land, ensuring that all 50 states must recognize such unions, regardless of state laws, in the event the Supreme Court overturns its 2015 decision, Obergefell v. Hodges, which mandates legal recognition of same-sex “marriage” nationwide.
The bill also poses grave threats to religious freedom, as numerous social conservative and religious liberty organizations have repeatedly warned.
The House passed the Respect for Marriage Act in July with an unexpected 47 Republican votes and the blessing of Republican House leaders, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
The Senate amended it to add language allegedly intended to address religious liberty concerns but which has faced blistering, widespread criticized from conservatives. The amended version of the bill is expected to pass the House again later this year.
Republicans are poised to take control of the House at the beginning of next year, after making gains in the midterm elections.
The White House has enthusiastically endorsed the Respect for Marriage Act. The bill is set to be Joe Biden’s first major legislative victory on LGBT issues
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-republicans-join-democrats-to-pass-same-sex-marriage-bill-in-massive-defeat-for-conservatives/?utm_source=onesignal
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