Georgia Delegation Split on Bill Codifying Same-Sex Marriage

When Congress voted Tuesday to enact federal legislation codifying same-sex marriage, it was a House divided once again.

The vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on the Respect for Marriage Act was 267-157, with every Democrat voting in favor of the bill. 47 Republicans joined in support of the bill, however, none of those Republicans represent Georgia.

The bill follows references to revisiting same-sex marriage rulings as outlined in SCOTUS opinions in Dobbs v. Jackson, the measure which overturned Roe v. Wade. The Respect for Marriage Act, brought by New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler.

Specifically, the bill language:

• recognizes all marriages under federal law if they were legal in the state in which they were performed, essentially grandfathering in all marriages in the event that SCOTUS revisits the issue
• repeals language in federal law from The Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 law signed by then-President Bill Clinton defining marriage as being the union of a man and a woman
• prevents state law from denying full faith and credit to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State pertaining to a marriage between 2 individuals, on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals; or
• prevents any state law from denying a right or claim arising from such a marriage on the basis that such marriage would not be recognized under the law of that State on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals.
• gives state attorney generals the authority to bring cases in federal court
• gives any wronged person the ability to bring civil cases in court

All in all, 157 Republicans voted against the measure on Tuesday. Seven did not cast a vote, including Representatives Babin, Burchett, Hartzler, Hollingsworth, Lucas, McKinley, and Miller (WV). 

Among those voting NAY were those in Georgia’s House delegation:

• Rick Allen (GA-12)
• Buddy Carter (GA-1)
• Andrew Clyde (GA-9)
• Drew Ferguson (GA-3)
• Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14)
• Jody Hice (GA-10)
• Barry Loudermilk (GA-11)
• Austin Scott (GA-8)

Democratic Representaitves Sanford Bishop, Hank Johnson, Nikeima Williams, Lucy McBath, Carolyn Bourdeaux, and David Scott all voted YEA. 

The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate, however, its fate remains unknown.

Read the bill here.