Same-sex marriage should be decided by states: Graham Said

Photo Source: By U.S. Senate Photo Office, Brett Flashnick

It is up to the states, not the federal government, to decide whether same-sex marriage is legal. This was the statement of Sen. Lindsey Graham on Aug. 7.

On July 19, HR 8404, the proposed Respect for Marriage Act, passed the House of Representatives 267-157 with 47 Republican votes, according to Graham's remarks on CNN's "State of the Union." Senators Rob Portman and Susan Collins (R-Maine) are expected to support the bill in the 50/50 Senate.

Representative Elise Stefanik, the chair of the House Republican Conference, and Scott Perry, the chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, voted for the bill. Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise voted no.

“I’ve been consistent. I think states should decide the issue of marriage and states should decide the issue of abortion,” Graham told CNN.

“I have respect for South Carolina. South Carolina voters here I trust to define marriage and to deal with [the] issue of abortion and not nine people on the court. That’s my view.”

Respect for Marriage Act supporters say the bill is needed because the Supreme Court’s June 24 decision overturning 49-year-old abortion precedent Roe v. Wade potentially opened the door to the future reversal of Obergefell by the court.

8 August 2022