Gay Marriage Bill Stalls In US Senate
The US Senate is delaying its vote on legislation that will protect same-sex marriage until after the November mid-term elections.
This is to allow Republicans some political breathing room to support the bill without offending their support bases.Leading Democratic negotiator on the bill, Senator Tammy Baldwin is confident that the bill will pass if Republicans are given time.“We’re very confident that the bill will pass, but we will need a little more time,” she told CNN.The decision to delay the vote comes after many weeks spent in bipartisan negotiations as a small group of senators had tried to reassure any concerns Republican senators had as a way to gain their support on the bill.The Respect for Marriage Act seeks to codify same-sex and interracial marriages whilst repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, which only recognises marriage in the US between a man and a woman.Senator Susan Collins has stated that the amendment would “make it clear” that the bill will not “legalise polyamorous marriages” or force churches to perform “same-sex marriages.”“I think we’re in very good shape, very good shape.
