Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick at an event in Bristol Borough in November 2019.
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick was among three dozen U.S. House of Representative Republicans who voted Tuesday to protect marriage equality.
The Respect for Marriage Act passed the House in a 267-157 vote that was supported by 47 Republicans and all of the chamber’s Democrats.
The legislation still has to be voted on by the U.S. Senate.
The bill would define a spouse as “a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.”
The bill would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which was approved by Congress in a bipartisan manner and was signed into law by the then-President Bill Clinton in 1996. Th Defense of Marriage Act recognized marriage as “only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.”
Fitzpatrick, who represents all of Bucks County and part of Montgomery County, did not release a statement following his vote.
The Respect for Marriage Act comes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In his opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas said the decision that impacts abortion rights at the federal level can open the door for reversals of other landmark decisions, including two that protect LGBTQ rights and marriage.
The 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges case protects same-sex marriage as a constitutional right, but there has been concern it could be overturned by the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court and many states could again outlaw same-sex marriage.
Fitzpatrick has taken part in past Pride month events, including the recent New Hope Pride Parade.
See also:
Congressman Fitzpatrick Votes for Gun Safety Legislation, Calls for Action
Congressman Fitzpatrick Added to Russia’s Ban List
Congressman Fitzpatrick Issues Statement on Vote Against Bill He Originally Co-Sponsored
Congressman Fitzpatrick Says Putin ‘Mentally Deteriorating,’ Calls for More Support Of Ukraine
Congressman Fitzpatrick Heading to Ukrainian Border
