Senator Hassan Statement Celebrating Marriage Equality Bill Signed into Law

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released the following statement ahead of the President signing the Respect for Marriage Act into law this afternoon:

“Enshrining marriage equality as the law of the land shows millions of couples - and the youngest generation of Americans - that their love is cherished in our democracy. The decision to marry is one of the most fundamental choices that a person can make, and today’s law protects this foundational freedom from attacks seen across the country. 

“As the first state in our country to legalize same-sex marriage without the force of a court order, New Hampshire has long led the fight for marriage equality. Today’s signing is the culmination of efforts by advocates working to secure these freedoms for decades, and I’m proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community in celebration today.”

The Respect for Marriage Act was introduced in the House by Congressman Chris Pappas and colleagues.

Senator Hassan has led efforts to enshrine marriage equality into law. During her time as Senate Majority Leader in the New Hampshire State Senate, Senator Hassan led the push to make New Hampshire the first state in the country where the legislature passed, and the governor signed, marriage equality into law without a court order. Her continued efforts to fight for marriage equality earned her a 100% perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign this Congress, a comprehensive indicator of her support for marriage equality and LGBTQ+ rights.

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