US Congress passes law protecting same-sex marriage

The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a law protecting same-sex marriage across the United States, over fears of a backtracking by the Supreme Court on the matter.

The text, which was approved by the Senate last week, must now be signed into law by President Biden. He pledged to do so without delay.

Unions between gay or lesbian people have been guaranteed by the United States Supreme Court since 2015. But after the high court’s historic reversal on abortion last June, many progressives fear that this right will also be unraveled.

A majority of Americans support same-sex marriage, including in the Republican ranks. But the religious right remains mostly opposed to it.