ABA President Deborah Enix-Ross is calling on members of the U.S. Senate to vote for the Respect for Marriage Act, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed with significant bipartisan support in July. In a letter sent to senators Thursday, Enix-Ross pointed out that marriage equality is not protected by federal statute, even though the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized that the 14th Amendment protects “the fundamental right to marry the person you love.” In addition, Enix-Ross said, the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman and permits states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted in other states.
