Milwaukee City Wire

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin views the recent historical passage of the Respect for Marriage Act as a seize the moment event.

“Whether it’s a family member, a friend, or a staffer we all know someone who is in a same-sex or interracial marriage,” Baldwin stated in a tweet Nov. 28. “That’s why I’m working across party lines to ensure their marriages are protected.”

By a vote of 61-36, the Respect for Marriage Act moved a step closer to replacing The Defense of Marriage Act which has been law since its passage in 1996. The Defense of Marriage Act defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman. It also gave states the authority to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, according to Wikipedia.

Under the Respect for Marriage Act, marriage equality would be designated as federal law, meaning marriages between same-sex and interracial couples would be legally protected anywhere in the United States, according to the Washington Post. Even with states not being required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, such unions would be legally recognized and protected, including in instances where they were performed in other parts of the country.