Hirono Joins President Biden For Signing of Respect for Marriage Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined President Biden at the White House as he signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law. The bipartisan legislation, which Senator Hirono cosponsored and helped to pass last month, protects marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples in federal law.

“Being able to marry who you want, regardless of race or gender, is a fundamental right, which is why I was proud to vote to protect same-sex and interracial marriages at the federal level,” said Senator Hirono. “The Respect for Marriage Act provides long overdue assurance for married couples that their unions will remain legal and protected, and I am glad that President Biden signed it into law today. I will continue working to ensure that every person in our country can live safely and openly as their authentic selves.”

The Respect for Marriage Act is bipartisan, bicameral legislation—cosponsored by Senator Hirono—to protect marriage equality in federal law. Specifically, the Respect for Marriage Act would:

1. Require the federal government to recognize a marriage between two individuals if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed; and
2. Guarantee that valid marriages between two individuals are given full faith and credit, regardless of the couple’s sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin, but the bill would not require a State to issue a marriage license contrary to state law.

Senator Hirono has been a consistent champion for LGBTQ+ rights. Earlier this year, she introduced a resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month and took to the Senate floor to block Senate Republicans’ attempt to pass anti-transgender legislation to ban trans women and girls from participating in sports consistent with their gender. In March, Senator Hirono also introduced a resolution with her Senate colleagues recognizing International Transgender Day of Visibility. She is also a sponsor of the Equality Act, legislation which would extend federal civil rights protections to LGBTQ+ individuals.

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