Biden enacts a law that protects gay marriage in the United States

President Joe Biden signed a law Tuesday that protects the same-sex marriage throughout the United States, during an event at the White House before thousands of guests.

In promulgating the text, the president affirmed that “the United States takes a vital step towards equality, liberty and justice, not only for some, but for all.”

It is a special moment for Bidenwho ten years ago, when he was vice president of Barack Obama, declared himself in favor of marriage for all.

The final passage of the law by Congress last week was one of the few displays of bipartisanship in a deeply divided Washington.

To celebrate, Biden met with a group of Republican and Democratic congressmen in the gardens of the White House, together with activists and people involved in legal actions in favor of marriage for all in the country.

There were also guests from the world of music and entertainment.

Tammy Baldwin, the first openly gay US senator, said she was “very pleased” about the signing of the law, which she helped draft in Congress.

“Today we make history and make a difference for millions of Americans,” he said in a statement. “We are telling millions of same-sex and interracial couples that we see and respect them.”

“Tranquility”

This law “will give peace of mind to millions of LGBTQI+ and interracial couples who will ultimately be guaranteed the rights and protections to which they and their children are entitled,” Karine Jean-Pierre, the first black and lesbian woman to serve as White House spokeswoman, said Monday.

Same-sex unions have been guaranteed by the United States Supreme Court since 2015. But after the court’s historic turn in June on abortion, many progressives feared losing this right.

The law promulgated this Tuesday repeals previous legislation that defined marriage as the union between a man and a woman and prohibits officials -regardless of the state in which they work- discriminate against couples based on “sex, race, ethnicity or origin”. .

The law was approved by all the Democratic congressmen and 39 Republicans. A total of 169 members of the Conservative Party opposed it.

A large majority of Americans support same-sex marriage, even in Republican ranks, though the religious right rejects it.

“Who do you Love?”

The US president was one of the first political leaders to support, at the top of the State, gay marriage.

As vice president, Biden somewhat bypassed Barack Obama by publicly declaring himself favorable to the marriage for allat a time when the administration was looking for the best way to make official the position of the Democratic president who is running for a second term.

“It’s a simple question: who do you love? Who do you love? And will you be true to the person you love?” Joe Biden said in a much-talked-about television interview.

“I don’t have the slightest problem with men marrying men and women marrying women with exactly the same rights as men marrying women,” he said.

Once in the White House, the 80-year-old Democrat appointed Pete Buttigieg as transportation minister, who became the first openly gay person confirmed by the Senate for a position of this responsibility.

In addition, Biden authorized US passports that allow the declaration of gender “X” and not just “M” (male) or “F” (female). He also lifted the ban on serving in the military at transgender People, that had been implemented by former Republican President Donald Trump.