Biden signs Respect for Marriage Act codifying federal recognition of same-sex and interracial

President Biden signs the Respect for Marriage Act at a White House ceremony with 2,000 attendees including entertainers, activists, and lawmakers. The bipartisan legislation, passing the Senate 61-36 and the House 258-169, repeals the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and codifies federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages. While it cannot prevent states from banning same-sex marriage if the Supreme Court overturns Obergefell v. Hodges, it ensures federal recognition and requires states to recognize valid marriages from other states. The push for the bill was sparked by Justice Clarence Thomas's Dobbs concurrence signaling Obergefell should be reconsidered. Stevie Wonder and Sam Smith perform at the celebration.