{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://troycarter.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-troy-carter-votes-enshrine-marriage-equality-under-federal-law", "Congressman Troy Carter Votes to Enshrine Marriage Equality Under Federal Law", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "LA", "Troy A. Carter", "C001125", "troycarter.house.gov", "troycarter", "https://troycarter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, amid extreme MAGA Republicans\u2019 continued threats to American\u2019s personal freedoms, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. voted to send the Respect for Marriage Act to President Biden\u2019s desk. This landmark legislation takes several key steps to defend marriage equality: officially repealing the bigoted and unconstitutional \u201cDefense of Marriage Act\u201d (DOMA), upholding couples\u2019 right to equal protection under federal law and requiring states to recognize valid out-of-state marriages.\n\n\u201cToday, I proudly voted to ensure the federal government never stands in the way of marrying the person you love,\u201d said Congressman Carter. \u201cAs extreme MAGA Republicans threaten more of Louisianian and American personal liberties, the Democratic Congress is fighting to honor the dignity and equality of every American. The Respect for Marriage Act is a historic step forward in that fight \u2013 sending a clear signal that hate and bigotry have no place in America. This landmark legislation will uphold marriage equality under federal law: tearing DOMA off the books for good, enshrining married couples\u2019 right to equal protection and barring discriminatory officials from invalidating out-of-state marriages.\u201d\n\nThe only member of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to vote in support of the Respect for Marriage Act,\n\nCongressman Carter has been a lifelong advocate for the rights and issues of the LGBTQ+ community. In 1993 as a Louisiana State Senator, he filed the first ever state bill to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. He continued advocating in a Republican-run State Capitol to pass that bill throughout his tenure as a state legislator.\n\nSarahJane Guidry, Executive Director for the Forum for Equality, Louisiana\u2019s leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender human rights organization, shared the following statement: \"Today's victory is a shining example of how far we\u2019ve come towards fully accepting and celebrating love, family, and the freedom to be our authentic selves. The Respect for Marriage Act will provide clarity and stability for hundreds of thousands of same-sex and interracial couples who are connected through the commitment of marriage. The momentum for the Respect for Marriage Act mirrors the overwhelming support for equal treatment for LGBTQ people among a supermajority of Americans, and here at home. It is a clear indication that the State of Louisiana needs to follow the example of Rep. Troy Carter, and work together to pass fundamental, basic rights for the LGBTQ community through bipartisan leadership.\"\n\nSince the Republican-appointed Supreme Court\u2019s outrageous Dobbs decision, extreme MAGA Republicans have set their sights on other basic personal freedoms. In his concurring opinion, Clarence Thomas explicitly called for the Court to reconsider its Obergefell decision upholding marriage equality.\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act will take several steps to protect the inviolability of same-sex and interracial marriages:\n\n\u00b7 Repealing the \u201cDefense of Marriage Act\u201d: While the Supreme Court has effectively voided DOMA, this unconstitutional and discriminatory federal law still remains on the books. The Respect for Marriage Act will repeal this statute once and for all.\n\n\u00b7 Enshrining Marriage Equality Into Federal Law: This legislation will uphold married couples\u2019 right to equal protection in all areas covered under federal law, such as Social Security, tax filings and veterans\u2019 benefits.\n\n\u00b7 Barring Discrimination By State Officials: This legislation prohibits state officials from denying recognition of an out-of-state marriage on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.\n\nPreviously passed by the House earlier this year, the Respect for Marriage Act was amended and advanced by the Senate last week. With today\u2019s House vote, the final bill now goes to the President\u2019s desk for his signature.\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act is strongly supported by leading advocacy organizations, including the ACLU, Center for American Progress, Equality Federation, Family Equality, Forum for Equality (Louisiana), Freedom for All Americans, GLAD, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Women\u2019s Law Center and PFLAG.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://troycarter.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-troy-carter-votes-enshrine-marriage-equality-under-federal-law"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7530900184065104, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}