The House on Tuesday passed legislation that would ensure federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages.
The Respect for Marriage Act had bipartisan support, with 47 Republicans joining all Democrats to vote for the measure. Another 157 Republicans voted no. It would repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. A Gallup poll conducted last month found that 70 percent of U.S. adults believe same-sex marriages should be recognized by the law as valid.
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