July 19: Two high-profile social issues, same-sex and interracial marriage, were voted on Tuesday by the House of Representatives. The vote is part of the Democrat’s strategy in an election year, to have politicians “show their hands,” to let the public know who they are and what they stand for. 

The vote is also a move to show the contrast between the “People’s House” and the Supreme Court, whose conservative majority is sparking concerns that Americans may see continued setbacks in rights that have taken decades to achieve. On the chopping block could be interracial marriage, same-sex marriage, contraception, and other fundamental rights concerning millions of Americans. 

“As this Court may take aim at other fundamental rights, we cannot sit idly by,” Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.

The Respect for Marriage Act passed in the House, but will most likely be blocked by Republicans in the Senate. It would overturn a law, the Defense of Marriage Act, that says that marriage is defined as a heterogeneous union between a man and a woman. The Defense of Marriage Act, from 1996, was sidelined by court rulings during President Obama’s years, allowing same-sex couples to marry nationwide. The new law, if passed in the Senate, would guarantee that the definition of marriage would not be determined by sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.

In more than 30 US states, same-sex marriage prohibitions are the law, threatening marriage equality in more than 60 percent of the nation.

A vote on contraceptive rights is also set to be voted on later this week in the House. Several bills are being worked on, including ones concerning abortion access. 

As seen in the decision to overturn Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court, in its literal interpretation of the Constitution, is leaning in the direction of giving power back to individual states. In Justice Samuel Alito’s decision, he wrote that abortion is not spelled out in the Constitution, and therefore is not a right guaranteed to all Americans. 

Justice Clarence Thomas said that rulings concerning same-sex marriage and the right to use contraception, should be re-evaluated. 

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Monday, “LGBTQ Americans and those in interracial marriages deserve to have certainty that they will continue to have their right to equal marriage recognized, no matter where they live, should the Court act on Justice Thomas’ draconian suggestion.” 

The House of Representatives is pushing back, and the country is split on the major issues. In an election year, we can expect to continue to see a big fight between the major political parties, as well as the courts.