Thank you Senator Baldwin

The road was long, but the journey has finally been completed. The United States Senate has passed the Respect for Marriage Act, ensuing same sex couples can remain legally married. The effort was spearheaded by Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, who has spent much of her 40 years in politics advocating for LGBTQ rights. That work paid off this week when the Senate passed the bill, sending it the House where it is expected to be approved, and then to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature. This legislation also protects interracial marriages and also protects rights related to child custody, adoption, and access to insurance coverage. The bill stipulates that a same-sex marriage conducted in one state must be recognized in every other state. That wasn’t always certain, especially in the wake of the Supreme Court decision on abortion, and subsequent comments by Justice Clearance Thomas suggesting the high court should also look at issues like same-sex marriage and contraception. This is a big victory for gay rights and Senator Baldwin deserves credit for her decades of work promoting tolerance and the rights of all citizens.