US President Joe Biden has signed federal law protecting same-sex marriages. “This law and the love that protects it defeats hate in all its forms,” Biden said at a signing ceremony outside the White House yesterday.
Numerous guests were present, including the owner of the US gay, lesbian and trans community-popular Colorado Springs nightclub where five people were shot dead in November. US pop legend Cyndi Lauper performed the song “True Colors”. “Now we’re allowed to love who we love, which sounds odd,” Lauper said.
States obliged to recognize
The US Congress passed the law last week. It is considered a milestone in the fight against discrimination. In fact, same-sex marriages are legalized by a Supreme Court decision. But after recent decisions by the Supreme Court, the US Democrats have campaigned for protection under federal law.
The law does not force any US state to allow same-sex couples to marry. But it does require states to recognize all marriages legally contracted elsewhere.