Republicans In Congress Must Defend Traditional Marriage

For Immediate Release: July 25, 2022
Contact: Ryan Hite, Communications Director

47 House Republicans Betrayed Traditional Family, Key Senators Awkwardly Silent

Washington, D.C.: “Last week Nancy Pelosi rushed H.R. 8404 through the House, the so-called ‘Respect for Marriage Act,'” said Ed Martin, president of Phyllis Schlafly Eagles. “What’s more shocking is 47 Republicans voted for same-sex ‘marriage,’ and now many key Senators who lambasted the Supreme Court’s overturn of the Defense of Marriage Act (Obergefell v. Hodges 2015) are now oddly silent in the face of this newly passed bill.

“Not only must the 47 Republicans be called to account by name for going against one of the fundamental tenants of our party, but we are dangerously close to losing enough supposed GOP votes in the Senate to codify same-sex marriage in America. This isn’t a problem simply from a moral and family perspective, but it will have huge ramifications socio-economically and legally.”

The Defense of Marriage Act (1996) rightly held that states could choose for themselves, and no state could be forced to recognize a so-called same-sex marriage from another. In no way did it prevent states from recognizing a change to the definition of marriage if they so chose — which a few states did by referendum of the voters. This “Respect for Marriage Act,” however does exactly the opposite. This would mandate by official federal fiat that states must behave a certain way, no matter the will of their voters, on recognizing marriage.

Martin continued, “This bill is a train-wreck from every angle, and we must call to account those so-called Republicans in the House who voted for it. Not only that, we have got to turn our attention to our senators and make sure they stick to their Republican principles and platform which protects the sanctity of marriage, the dignity of the family, and the federalism of our republic.”

Republicans who voted YES to impose same-sex marriage on every state:

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