JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed H.B. 8404, titled the “Respect for Marriage Act”, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and replace it with a law that federally recognizes same-sex marriages and interracial marriages, as well as prohibit any state law that fails to uphold full marriage equality regardless of race or gender.
The bill passed with a 267-157 margin, receiving 100% support from Democrats and from 47 Republicans. Meanwhile, of the 157 Republicans who opposed the bill, 10 represent districts in Florida, and seven represent districts in Georgia.
The #Georgia lawmakers who voted against the bill that would codify same-sex & interracial marriages into law: @RepBuddyCarter@Rep_Clyde@RepDrewFerguson@RepMTG@CongressmanHice@RepLoudermilk@AustinScott4GA#News4JAX @wjxt4
— Joe McLean (@JoeMcLeanNews) July 20, 2022
News4JAX reached out to Rutherford and his office for an explanation for his vote but did not receive a response as of this article’s publication. News4JAX also reached out to the campaigns of his primary challengers, Leigha Garner-Lopez and Mara Macie, but did not receive a response as of publication.
When asked by reporters about how he intends to vote on the measure should it reach a vote in his chamber, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, said lawmakers should be focusing on gas prices and “the things that are urgently affecting the American people.”
On Wednesday, Rubio told CNN’s Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju that he intends to vote “no” on the bill, calling it a “stupid waste of time.”
Marco Rubio told me that he is a NO on House’s same-sex marriage bill, calling it a “stupid waste of time”
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) July 20, 2022
On Wednesday, after Rubio called the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act a “stupid waste of time” and said he would be voting against the bill in the Senate, former Orlando Police Chief and candidate for U.S. Senate Congresswoman Val Demings released the following statement:
News4JAX spoke with Cindy Hill-Nobles, President of PFLAG of Jacksonville, about the bill.
“We’re hopeful -- it was a bipartisan effort, which we’re very happy about that almost a quarter of Republicans crossed the aisle and voted with Democrats to protect marriage,” Nobles said. “Mr. Rutherford, voting no, was not surprising and disappointing. We still have in the state of Florida, a ban on same-sex marriage on the books, if Obergefell is overturned, we go back to the standing order in Florida, which is going to nullify tens of thousands of marriages and break apart families and no good can come of that.”
News4JAX reached out to Rutherford’s primary opponent, Mara Macie, who is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Florida’s 5th Congressional District, for comment.
We also spoke with Luna Lopez, Republican candidate for Florida’s 5th Congressional District.
“I am strongly in support of equal rights for everyone. You know, I don’t believe that, you know, elected officials, their job is not to change the Constitution, it’s to uphold the Constitution,” Lopez said.
When asked if she believes the Constitution protects same-sex and interracial marriages, she responded: “I believe that whatever the Supreme Court upholds is one that should be respected.”
News4JAX also reached out to Senator Rick Scott for comment. His press secretary, Clare Lattanze, said: “Thanks so much for checking in. We unfortunately don’t have any availability for an interview today, but Senator Scott is reviewing the legislation.”
Many analysts are not confident in the bill’s chances of clearing the Senate chamber, as it would require 10 Republican votes to pass.