U.S. Senate passes gay marriage bill

A handful of Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the “Respect for Marriage Act,” which passed 61-36, and will now head to the House of Representatives.

“This Senate has passed the Respect for Marriage Act!” Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said “Because no one should be discriminated against because of who they love.”

Though neither same-sex nor interracial marriages are currently illegal in any state, lawmakers sought to codify protections in federal law.

As The Center Square previously reported, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., has helped lead the effort. Her office said the legislation would “require the federal government to recognize a marriage between two individuals if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed.”