Washington, DC – On the first day of the 116th Congress, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) today introduced the Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act, legislation to strike gendered words like “husband” and “wife” from all federal laws and replace them with the term “spouse.”
“While the landmark Supreme Court decision ending the ban on same-sex marriage was a historic step in the right direction, there is still more work to be done to ensure that the LGBTQ community is treated equally under the law in all respects,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “Our words reflect our values, and every gendered reference in our federal code undermines and de-legitimizes same-sex couples. This legislation will recognize and re-affirm that all Americans have the right to marry the person they love, ensure no one is denied federal benefits and protections because of who they love, and more broadly make sure that same-sex couples are treated equally under the law in all respects.”
Issues: 116th Congress, Civil Rights