Pelosi Statement on One-Year Anniversary of the Respect for Marriage Act

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi issued this statement marking one year since President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law:

“One year ago, President Joe Biden signed into law the Respect for Marriage Act: a triumph of love, liberty and justice for all.  Responding to a Republican supermajority on the Supreme Court that took explicit aim at marriage equality, this law requires states to recognize same-sex marriages that are valid in the state where they were performed and tossed the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act into the dustbin of history.  It is with great personal pride that this law protecting marriage bears my signature, as one of the final bills I signed as Speaker of the House.

“Our Respect for Marriage Law was an important step forward in the long fight for full equality, made possible by generations of fearless activists – but there remains more work to do.  Shamefully, extreme Republicans are continuing their hateful attacks on the LGBTQ+ community: seeking to ban transgender athletes from the playing field, censor teachers from ‘just saying gay’ in their classrooms and restrict the fundamental rights of our LGBTQ+ friends, family and neighbors.

“As we celebrate the anniversary of this monumental victory, let us renew our unending commitment to continue fighting to ensure respect, dignity and safety for our LGBTQ+ community.”