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US Senate passes bill protecting same-sex marriage
The US Senate passed a landmark bill Tuesday protecting same-sex marriage, as lawmakers from both parties moved to forestall the possibility of the conservative-led Supreme Court taking away this right as it did with abortion.
“With today’s bipartisan Senate passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, the United States is on the brink of reaffirming a fundamental truth: love is love, and Americans should have the right to marry the person they love,” President Joe Biden said in a statement released after the 61-36 vote.
The Senate vote sends the bill back to the House of Representatives, which Speaker Nancy Pelosi said would approve it next week before sending it to Biden to sign.
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer hailed a “momentous step forward for greater justice for LGBTQ Americans.”
Twelve Republicans joined Democrats to pass the legislation on what had for decades been a deeply divisive issue in America.
In the United States, same-sex unions have been guaranteed by the Supreme Court since 2015. But after the court’s historic overturning of a longstanding ruling protecting the right to abortion in June, many progressives feared that same-sex marriage may also be under threat.
Democrats have worked with urgency to get the bill passed while they still control Congress.
They held on to the Senate in this month’s mid-term elections but lost the House to the Republicans, although the latter eked out a much thinner majority than they had expected. So when the new Congress takes power in January, gridlock is expected.
Read Also: NHRC reiterates commitment to protecting human rights
The bill passed Tuesday does not require states to legalize same-sex marriage.
But it repeals previous legislation defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman and does require states to recognize same-sex marriages from other states.
So if the Supreme Court were to overturn the 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriages, a state that bans them will still have to recognize such unions carried out in other states. The bill also applies to interracial marriages.
“Today’s vote is deeply personal for many of us in this chamber,” said Schumer, who wore the same tie he had on at his lesbian daughter’s wedding.
A similar bill was already passed in June by the House of Representatives. All the chamber’s Democrats voted in favour, along with 47 Republicans.
The new vote in the House is needed to reconcile the two bills but this is seen as a formality.
The powerful American Civil Liberties Union hailed the “historic step forward” but denounced the rise of laws attacking the right of transgender people in several states.
“While we welcome the historic vote on this measure, members of Congress must also fight like trans lives depend on their efforts because trans lives do,” James Esseks, director of the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Rights Project, said in a statement.
Polls show a strong majority of Americans back same-sex marriage but it is still contentious. Thirty-six Republicans voted ‘no’ on Tuesday and the religious right remains mostly opposed to such unions.
US Senate passes bill protecting same-sex marriage
Headlines
NOA urges Nigerians to use Eid-el-Maulud for sober reflection
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians to utilise the Eid-el-Maulud celebration for introspection and prayers for the nation.
The Director-General of NOA, Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu, also acknowledged the efforts of the current administration in addressing economic challenges and delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a statement on Monday in Abuja by the Deputy Director of Press, Mr Paul Odenyi, Issa-Onilu noted that the administration is working tirelessly to develop the country.
He urged Nigerians to emulate the virtues of selflessness, tolerance, peace, love, and fairness exemplified by Prophet Muhammad.
Specifically, Issa-Onilu called on Nigerians to offer prayers for wisdom and guidance for President Bola Tinubu to lead Nigeria to its rightful place among developed nations.
“I urge the Muslim community to offer supplications to God for wisdom and guidance for President Bola Tinubu to lead Nigeria to its rightful place among developed nations,” he said.
Issa-Onilu also advised Nigerians to refrain from engaging in any form of lawlessness during the public holiday.
He assured Nigerians that the government had put measures in place to ensure the protection of lives and property during the holiday and beyond.
Headlines
Alake restates Tinubu’s commitment to improving senior citizens’ welfare
Alake restates Tinubu’s commitment to improving senior citizens’ welfare
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has restated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare of senior citizens in the country.
Alake said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikoro-Ekiti, his country home.
According to the minister, Tinubu is determined to accord dignity to senior citizens by giving them a new lease of life in line with his Renewed Hope Mantra.
Alake said that senior citizens had been adequately factored in all the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
NAN reports that Alake had on Saturday, distributed 1,200 bags of rice to the elderly in Ekiti, irrespective of the political party they belonged to.
He thanked the president for listening to the people and demonstrating a caring heart, noting “1,200 bags of rice was made available to me and each minister to further supplement the established channels of distribution.
“We need to reach out to our aged fathers and mothers at times like this to demonstrate the Omoluabi values of taking care of the old in the community.
“In the spirit of inclusion, it is important that we channel this intervention to mainly elderly citizens.
“This is because they do not have the strength to compete for welfare goods such as these at the established centres. We have taken their inventory and we are delivering it to them.
“Subsequent interventions will target other segments of the populace, such as widows, orphans, persons living with disabilities and students in higher institutions of learning,” he said.
The minister said that the onus was on the people to care for the elderly by focusing on issues affecting them, adding that every individual would grow old and require the support of the younger generation at some point in life.
Headlines
Eid-el-Maulud: First Lady preaches peace, harmony
The First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has rejoiced with the Muslim faithful on the occasion of the Eid-el-Maulud celebration, to commemorate the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
Oluremi in a message to mark the occasion on Monday in Abuja, urged the Muslims to use the opportunity to reflect on the teachings of love, kindness, and tolerance of Prophet Muhammad.
In her words, “This will help us to build a stronger community and a more harmonious society.
“I felicitate with the Muslim Ummah across our great nation as we celebrate this year’s Maulud Nabiyy, the blessed birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
“This occasion reminds us of the values of peace, compassion, and unity that the Prophet exemplified throughout his life.
“May the blessings of this day bring joy and peace to our homes and our country,” she said.
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