Anti-LGBTQ+ U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler of Missouri started crying on the House floor Thursday as she begged her fellow representatives to vote against the Reflect for Marriage Act, which will write marriage equality into federal law.“I’ll tell you my priorities,” said Hartzler, a Republican. “Protect religious liberty.
Protect people of faith. And protect Americans who believe in a true meaning of marriage. I hope and pray that my colleagues find the courage to join me in opposing this misguided and this dangerous bill.” She teared up toward the end of her remarks.
The House nonetheless passed the act, which will protect same-sex and interracial married couples even if the Supreme Court overturns its 2015 marriage equality ruling.
Justice Clarence Thomas has called for the court to do just that if an appropriate case comes up. It will assure that the federal government recognizes these marriages and that states recognize those performed in other states, although it doesn’t require any state to allow same-sex couples to marry within its borders, as now required under the 2015 Obergefell v.