“It’s a simple question: who do you love? Who do you love and will you be faithful to the person you love? » It is by taking up a formula that he has used in the past to publicly announce his support for homosexual unions that Joe Biden promulgated, Tuesday, December 13 at the White House, a text protecting the union of people of the same sex in the world. entire United States.
By signing this law in front of thousands of guests and in a festive atmosphere, the American president hailed “a crucial step towards equality, freedom and justice, not just for a few but for everyone”.
It was a special moment for Joe Biden who, in 2012, made an impression by publicly saying he was in favor of marriage for all while he was Barack Obama’s vice-president. It was also one for Vice President Kamala Harris and House of Representatives Patron Nancy Pelosi, also present, who have also long been committed to defending the rights of LGBT + people.
The law “is a blow to hatred in all its forms”said the 80-year-old Democrat. “It’s one thing when the Supreme Court pronounces a judgment, it’s another when the elected representatives of the people vote in Congress to say loud and clear: love is love”, he added to the cheers of a crowd of 5,300 people who were unfazed by the very cold temperatures. This expression “Love is love” has become an emblematic slogan of the fight for same-sex marriage.
Lady Gaga and Cindy Lauper
The president then sat down to sign the text. As he handed his pen, as a sign of thanks, to Kamala Harris, a tube of Lady Gaga, Born this way (“Born That Way”), aired at full volume as the White House lit up in rainbow colors.
The ceremony, resolutely festive, included an appearance by Cindy Lauper for her song True Colorswith the testimony of two lesbians, Gina and Heidi Nortonsmith, who carried out a pioneering fight before the courts to have their union and their family recognized.
The moment was also, of course, political: Joe Biden hugged Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, an openly gay prime minister never confirmed by the US Senate, and chatted with bisexual Senator Kyrsten Sinema – who just walked out of the Democratic Party.
Same-sex unions have been guaranteed by the U.S. Supreme Court since 2015. But after the high court’s historic flip-flop on abortion in June, many progressives fear that right may also be unraveled . The law enacted on Tuesday repeals previous laws defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. And prohibits civil registrars – regardless of the state in which they work – from discriminating against couples “because of their sex, race, ethnicity or origin”.
It was passed in Congress by all elected Democrats and 39 Republicans, while 169 members of the Conservative Party opposed it. A large majority of Americans support same-sex marriage, including in the Republican ranks. But the religious right remains mostly opposed to it.