White House hosts thousands for signing of Respect for Marriage Act

President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law Tuesday afternoon, ensuring the federal protection of same-sex and interracial marriages. Thousands gathered on the South Lawn to mark the significant milestone in the quest for marriage equality.
The White House invited thousands to join the president and other government officials for the celebratory ceremony. The event featured musical guests that performed before Biden's remarks, such as Sam Smith and longtime LGBTQ rights advocate Cyndi Lauper. Invited guests included the co-owner of Club Q, the Colorado LGBTQ club that was attacked by a gunman last month, and two survivors of the mass shooting. The White House also invited plaintiffs from Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 landmark Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage nationally, and lawyers who represented the interracial couple at the center of the 1967 Loving v. Virginia case.
The bill signing illuminates how far Biden has come on the issue of equal rights for the LGBTQ community. Biden evolved from voting for the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 to declaring he was "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex marriages in a 2012 interview while vice president. His remarks on Tuesday reflected Biden's modern-day support for LGBTQ equality.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"My fellow Americans, the road to this moment has been long, but those who believe in equality and justice, you never gave up," Biden told the cheering crowd. "We got it done. We're going to continue the work ahead. I promise you."
The landmark Respect for Marriage Act, a bipartisan effort, passed the Senate last month and the House last week with support from both Democrats and Republicans. The bill was sparked by fears that the Supreme Court would turn its attention to reconsidering marriage equality laws after overturning Roe v. Wade.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.
-
Five key questions about the Gaza peace deal
The Explainer Many ‘unresolved hurdles’ remain before Donald Trump’s 20-point plan can get the go-ahead
-
See the Northern Lights from these bucket list destinations
The Week Recommends The dazzling displays can be spotted across Iceland, Sweden and parts of Canada
-
Sudoku hard: October 7, 2025
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies
-
YouTube to pay Trump $22M over Jan. 6 expulsion
Speed Read The president accused the company of censorship following the suspension of accounts post-Capitol riot