Biden Signs Respect for Marriage Act Into Law at White House Ceremony

President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law on Tuesday, cementing federal protections for same-sex marriages.

Key Quotes: The law focuses on "a simple proposition: Who do you love? And will you be loyal with that person you love? It’s not more complicated than that," Biden said at a signing ceremony on the White House lawn. "The law recognizes that everyone should have the right to answer those questions for themselves without government interference."

For Context: The signing caps a months-long legislative push by Democrats to codify same-sex marriage protections. That push was born out of concern stemming from Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas's remark that the court should "reconsider" its ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, in which it held that the 14th Amendment requires states to license and recognize same-sex marriage. A bipartisan group of senators introduced the legislation last month, and the Senate then passed it in a 61-36 vote with support from 12 Republicans. It also repeals the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which recognized marriage as "only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife."

How the Media Covered It: Left- and center-rated sources often framed the news in a positive light and focused on the signing ceremony and festivities. Right-rated outlets highlighted the signing much less overall. Some right-rated outlets, such as Fox News (Right bias), highlighted how Biden invited drag queens to attend the signing.