WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01), Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus and New Hampshire’s first openly gay member of Congress, issued the following statement after the Respect for Marriage Act was signed into law by President Biden. Pappas introduced this legislation alongside Congressman Nadler and his fellow Equality Caucus Co-Chairs in July 2022.

“The signing of this legislation is a landmark moment not just for the LGBTQ+ community, but for all Americans, because its enactment brings us one step closer to our country’s founding promise of guaranteeing liberty and justice for all. The Obergefell decision extended marriage equality to all fifty states and the idea it could be overturned is unthinkable. But we know there are justices on the Supreme Court who want to reconsider that decision, and others that have protected rights rooted in the right to privacy, so the enactment of this legislation is critically important to ensure that no matter what the court does no family will have to worry the federal government will no longer recognize their union.”

“I am grateful to President Biden for signing this legislation into law today. Growing up I wondered as a member of the LGBTQ+ community whether I’d be able to have a full life and a family of my own. We’ve certainly come a long way on that front, and while work remains to be done to guarantee true equality for all, the signing of this legislation ensures we will not lose these hard-fought rights we all deserve.”