On November 28, the Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act in a vote of 61-36. Though it already passed the House, it has to go back quickly before the Republicans gain control in January so that President Biden can sign it into law. Because our collective expectations for politicians are so low, many are cheering this as a win. However, this is act is not going to fully legalize same-sex and interracial marriage as it’s being touted.

Before we get into this watered-down law, let’s quickly recap how it came about. Everything is linked to the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) overturning Roe v. Wade via the Dobbs decision in July 2022. Months before it was official, a SCOTUS leak argued against many privacy protections and signaled the end of legal reproductive healthcare for millions. These protections are the basis of many laws in the last century. This includes citations like major rulings on sodomy laws (anal sex, but broadly used to outlaw same-sex relationships), miscegenation (sex between people of different races), and the use of contraception.