Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg saw a tweet he posted about the Respect for Marriage Act go viral. The act was passed by the US Senate yesterday and will now be voted upon in the house.
“Strange feeling, to see something as basic and as personal as the durability of your marriage come up for debate on the Senate floor,” Buttigieg said in a first tweet, which was posted a few hours before the Senate passed the legislation.
Strange feeling, to see something as basic and as personal as the durability of your marriage come up for debate on the Senate floor.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) November 29, 2022
Buttigieg followed it with a second tweet saying, “But I am hopeful that they will act to protect millions of families, including ours, and appreciate all that has gone into preparing this important legislation to move forward.”
Buttigieg’s original tweet has had over 70k likes and over 7,000 comments.
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The Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act in a 61-36 vote. Twelve Republicans joined all the Democrats in voting for the legislation.
Related: Lindsey Graham proudly votes against “gay marriage” bill and internet tells him to sit back down
Chuck Schumer talks of his daughter marrying a woman
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) spoke movingly of what the legislation meant to him. He pointed out he was wearing a tie he’d worn to his daughter’s wedding to her now wife.
“For millions and millions of Americans, today is a very good day. An important day. A day that’s been a long time coming,” he said on the Senate floor. “Sometimes we’ve taken steps forward. Other times, unfortunately, we’ve taken disturbing steps backward. But today … we are taking the momentous step forward for greater justice for LGBTQ Americans.”
I just called my daughter and her wife—who are expecting a baby next spring—to let them know that this Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act!
What a great day! pic.twitter.com/K3ZKM7r5Zo
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 29, 2022
Three Republican Senators—Mike Lee (R-Utah), James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)—tried to add additional amendments expanding religious freedom exemptions. However, they were all voted down before the final passage of the bill.
Related: Tucker Carlson attacks Pete Buttigieg for previously “lying” about his sexuality
The bill does include some exemptions for religious nonprofits and conscience protections under the Constitution.
Because of this, some advocates for LGBTQ rights say it doesn’t go far enough. However, Democrats feared it would not succeed without some concessions.
“It would be great if the bill went further, but we don’t have the votes for the bill to go further,” Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) told Changing America. “I think this is an enormously important first step and I don’t think there are any guarantees that the Supreme Court will not overturn the precedent they set recently with Obergefell, so this is important to protect the rights of same-sex couples across the country.”
Why was congress debating the Respect for Marriage Act?
When the US Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal across the US in 2015, most people regarded the matter as settled. However, with SCOTUS overturning Roe v. Wade earlier this year, there are fears the justices might re-examine same-sex marriage.
Because of this, the Biden administration has moved to codify same-sex and interracial marriage with the introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act.
After passing the Senate, the bill will now go back to the House for a second vote because of the inclusion of an earlier religious freedom amendment.
The House is expected to pass it, possibly as early as next week. President Biden has already indicated he will sign it into law as soon as it reaches his desk.
Responding to Buttigieg’s tweet, many also said it felt surreal to still be debating the issue of same-sex marriage.
My husband and I were together for 20 years before we were “allowed” to get married. While I appreciate this being passed, I am disgusted and insulted that it’s necessary.
— Jeff (@ncguy1420) November 29, 2022
I’m so sorry that it even had to come to this. I’m hoping right(and rights) prevail.
— Serita Turner 💙🐝💙 (@SeritaDTurner) November 29, 2022
I can’t imagine what you are feeling. All day I have been thinking about a good friend of mine. He has been with the same man for over 30 years but just able to legally marry since the SC ruling. How cold could people be to take that away?
— Lyn Baker (@LynBake44829055) November 30, 2022
👆and compassion
— meshe the neurotypical cat (@meshe) November 29, 2022
abfab
I hope Pete runs again.
dario717
I hope that when he does, people realize that there is a reason that he was the only one of the 20,000-or-so who ran against Biden who Biden chose to put in his Cabinet, minus Kamala Harris, of course.
blf49
Agreed, I hope he runs again. The way he deals with the baiting has been wonderful, and I’d like to see it as he addresses larger issues.
However, the revulsion shown by haters is real, vicious, and violent. The 2020 election raised the stakes for the farthest Right. They already decompensate over drag brunches. An LGBTQ candidate will whip them into a frenzy. They will make it ugly.
But Pete is the right person so maybe now is the time.
abfab
Q,
Are you sitting on this report or waiting for an engraved invitiation?
*********
The powerful gay man behind Tucker Carlson’s bloodcurdling hate
Justin Wells is in charge of Carlson’s entire Fox News empire. He’s helped ramp up vitriol against LGBTQ people while rising higher still at News Corp.
Michelangelo Signorile
21 hr ago
bachy
Just read it. Wow. Boggling.
Kangol2
Great point, @abfab, that’s a story Queerty should be covering. It’s already appearing on social media and a number of news sites. To top it off, Justin Wells isn’t just a White gay man with immense power at FoxNews, but he’s also benefitted from the successes the LGBTQ rights and equality movements have achieved over the years, including same-sex marriage! Yet he is actively pushing an extreme anti-LGBTQ agenda at FoxNews, particularly through the mouthpiece of Tucker Carlson.
james7
Pete is the best example of a gay role model. I can hardly wait until he’s President.
Wee-Boo63
I’dvote for him! His husbandwill be the 1st First Man, YES!!!!! Now wouldn’t THAT be SO much fun watching those anti-LGBTQ2S+ lose their collective minds? ?
Tiredoftheinsanity
I agree but fear y that the USA is not ready for a gay President any more than it is ready for a female President. A great deal of progress has occurred of late but so too a lot of back stepping due to hate, ignorance, social media, mass media and religion and until that changes, I do not foresee a gay individual being elected as President. I hope I am wrong.
abfab
First you agree and then you don’t agree. Then that gets followed up by the tired, old, lame, untrue talking point. While you hope you are wrong, I know you are wrong. I will agree with you on one thing. You have zero foresight. Change!
Wee-Boo63
I’dvote for him! His husbandwill be the 1st First Man, YES!!!!! Now wouldn’t THAT be SO much fun watching those anti-LGBTQ2S+ lose their collective minds? ?
Diplomat
Drop it Abless. No one hear needs your advice. Or your vitriol. Own your anger and keep it at bay.
Rikki Roze
Pete B. is clearly one of the sharpest people in politics today. I hope he has a long and successful career in Washington.
domino85
I’m so tired of this marriage topic when 80% of gay men are open relationship “husbands” on Grindr. The duplicity of this community is truly breathtaking sometimes.
abfab
And you take my breath away.
domino85
I wish you had a point.