Congressman Troy Carter Votes to Enshrine Marriage Equality Under Federal Law

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, amid extreme MAGA Republicans’ continued threats to American’s personal freedoms, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. voted to send the Respect for Marriage Act to President Biden’s desk. This landmark legislation takes several key steps to defend marriage equality: officially repealing the bigoted and unconstitutional “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA), upholding couples’ right to equal protection under federal law and requiring states to recognize valid out-of-state marriages.

“Today, I proudly voted to ensure the federal government never stands in the way of marrying the person you love,” said Congressman Carter. “As extreme MAGA Republicans threaten more of Louisianian and American personal liberties, the Democratic Congress is fighting to honor the dignity and equality of every American. The Respect for Marriage Act is a historic step forward in that fight – sending a clear signal that hate and bigotry have no place in America. This landmark legislation will uphold marriage equality under federal law: tearing DOMA off the books for good, enshrining married couples’ right to equal protection and barring discriminatory officials from invalidating out-of-state marriages.”

The only member of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to vote in support of the Respect for Marriage Act,

Congressman Carter has been a lifelong advocate for the rights and issues of the LGBTQ+ community. In 1993 as a Louisiana State Senator, he filed the first ever state bill to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. He continued advocating in a Republican-run State Capitol to pass that bill throughout his tenure as a state legislator.

SarahJane Guidry, Executive Director for the Forum for Equality, Louisiana’s leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender human rights organization, shared the following statement: "Today's victory is a shining example of how far we’ve come towards fully accepting and celebrating love, family, and the freedom to be our authentic selves. The Respect for Marriage Act will provide clarity and stability for hundreds of thousands of same-sex and interracial couples who are connected through the commitment of marriage. The momentum for the Respect for Marriage Act mirrors the overwhelming support for equal treatment for LGBTQ people among a supermajority of Americans, and here at home. It is a clear indication that the State of Louisiana needs to follow the example of Rep. Troy Carter, and work together to pass fundamental, basic rights for the LGBTQ community through bipartisan leadership."

Since the Republican-appointed Supreme Court’s outrageous Dobbs decision, extreme MAGA Republicans have set their sights on other basic personal freedoms.  In his concurring opinion, Clarence Thomas explicitly called for the Court to reconsider its Obergefell decision upholding marriage equality.  

The Respect for Marriage Act will take several steps to protect the inviolability of same-sex and interracial marriages:

· Repealing the “Defense of Marriage Act”: While the Supreme Court has effectively voided DOMA, this unconstitutional and discriminatory federal law still remains on the books.  The Respect for Marriage Act will repeal this statute once and for all.

· Enshrining Marriage Equality Into Federal Law: This legislation will uphold married couples’ right to equal protection in all areas covered under federal law, such as Social Security, tax filings and veterans’ benefits.

· Barring Discrimination By State Officials: This legislation prohibits state officials from denying recognition of an out-of-state marriage on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.

Previously passed by the House earlier this year, the Respect for Marriage Act was amended and advanced by the Senate last week.  With today’s House vote, the final bill now goes to the President’s desk for his signature.

The Respect for Marriage Act is strongly supported by leading advocacy organizations, including the ACLU, Center for American Progress, Equality Federation, Family Equality, Forum for Equality (Louisiana), Freedom for All Americans, GLAD, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Women’s Law Center and PFLAG.

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