Two Lehigh Valley organizations are sharing their thoughts on new national same-sex and interracial marriage legislation.
- President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act,' protecting same-sex and interracial marriage across the U.S.
- Lehigh Valley organizations for civil and LGBTQ+ rights agree the legislation is a progressive step, but more is needed
- Interracial marriage was federally legalized in the 1960s and some wonder why it's still being discussed in the courts
President Joe Biden signed the 'Respect for Marriage Act' Tuesday after bipartisan support passed the bill on Dec. 8, 2022.
The legislation includes protection for spouses of different races. Esther Lee, president of the Bethlehem NAACP, said Tuesday morning it came as a shock.
"You know, I'm gonna tell you, I was actually surprised to see that," Lee said. "After all these years, there's been people who have been married forever, except in states where there are these crazy laws."
Before a landmark court case in 1967, interracial marriages were illegal in 17 U.S. states, mostly in the South. Pennsylvania legislation criminalizing interracial marriage was repealed in 1780.
"I would hope that one day we won't need laws to direct us as to how to accept one another," Lee said. "That we just do it, because it's the human thing to do."
Lee said she theorized the new legislation will not effect anything at all in Pennsylvania except, provide some "stability" for those in "interracial" marriages.
LGBTQ protections
On Tuesday afternoon the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown issued the statement, "we believe marriage is about love, commitment, and family and that all families deserve protection and equality under the law. President Biden's signing of the Respect for Marriage Act into law brings us closer to making this a reality. Today we are thrilled for our community and eternally grateful for the generations who fought for marriage equality and equal rights.”
Interim Director Bill McGlinn told LehighValleyNews.com the new marriage law is essentially good news.
"There's still a lot of work to do," he said. "And it's great that it happened."
McGlinn recently celebrated his 40th anniversary as a couple with his husband, and his ninth year married — which he argues, comes with certain protections that should be available to all.
"I would say to those people, you know based probably on your value system, and how you want to live your life, there is no discrimination against that value that you hold. However, love is love, and there is a huge percentage of us who love a person of the same sex and create lives together, and a world based on love and commitment."Bill McGlinn, Interim Director, Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center
"Part of getting married was to protect ourselves," he said. "To protect our decision making, to protect our decision making about healthcare, that one or the other might have to receive at some point, and our estate — protecting everything we've built over the last 40 years."
An 'outrageous' discussion
Though speaking as a representative of an LGBT center on the topic of a mainly same-sex marriage bill, McGlinn was also taken aback by the interracial marriage component.
"If you look at our dream, I can't even believe that we're still discussing that in 2022 in this country," he said. "The fact that we still have to have that discussion is outrageous."
When asked what he might say to someone who disagrees with the concept of same-sex marriage, McGlinn had the following to say:
"I would say to those people, you know based probably on your value system, and how you want to live your life, there is no discrimination against that value that you hold," he said, referring to those who are in heterosexual relationships and may want to get married.
"However, love is love, and there is a huge percentage of us who love a person of the same sex and create lives together, and a world based on love and commitment."
