WASHINGTON – Hispanic Federation is thrilled with the House of Representatives’ passage of the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, ensure protections for same-sex marriage at the federal level, and establish more legal protections for marriage equality. Hispanic Federation calls on the Senate to move quickly to pass the bill in a similar bipartisan manner.

“We applaud the 267 House members who voted to pass this bipartisan bill to defend and ensure equality for same-sex couples wishing to marry. This bill is a proactive step to protect our existing LGBTQ+ rights. Having the government recognize marriage equality is also essential for immigration purposes. At Hispanic Federation, we recognize the need for our communities to live free of hatred and discrimination, and we understand the intersectionality of our lived experiences and histories as Latinos, immigrants, people of color, and queer folks and the necessity to protect and celebrate our communities’ diverse, intersectional identities and needs. As a gay man who was separated from my husband for ten years because of immigration barriers and a lack of legal recognition of our relationship, I can speak firsthand about the importance of these legal protections. We will continue to fight future legislative and judicial efforts that undermine our human rights to ensure that our families and future generations can thrive and live free of discrimination. We urge the Senate to swiftly pass the Respect for Marriage Act without equivocation,” said Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation.

“Sadly, this bill is especially needed at a time when the shadow of the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson  opens the door for undermining protections for private sexual acts, access to contraception, and same-sex marriage. All people, regardless of their race, sexual or gender orientation, should have the freedom to marry the person they love and be able to live and build their lives together, knowing that the government recognizes and respects their marriage. The recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade proves that the conservative majority Supreme Court is willing to undermine the constitutional grounds for equality and take away a right that is widely supported by the public. Today, more Americans than ever support LGBTQ+ rights, with Hispanic Americans showing the highest support (80%) among all racial and ethnic groups. 70% of Americans support same-sex marriage, a record high since 2015. But since Justice Thomas already stated that the Supreme Court should revisit previous rulings that gave protections to same-sex marriage and relationships, the stakes cannot be higher. Our leaders must do everything in their power to ensure that marriage equality remains the law of the land,” added Laura M. Esquivel, Vice President, Federal Policy and Advocacy, Hispanic Federation.