Jewish Federations Applaud Advancement of Respect for Marriage Act

The Jewish Federations of North America applaud the Senate for advancing the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act, legislation that embodies our values of ensuring the civil rights of all who wish to be married, a goal we have supported both in the United States and Israel.


The Respect for Marriage Act would codify marriage equality for same sex and interracial couples into federal law, ensuring that government entities are required to provide federal benefits to all married couples regardless of the state in which they live.


As one of the largest philanthropic networks in the United States, representing over 300 Jewish communities around the country, we seek to build flourishing Jewish communities, with a special focus on supporting healthy, safe, and caring communities that are just, equitable, diverse, inclusive, and foster a sense of belonging. 


In all our work we strive to ensure that the religious freedoms of our diverse community are respected and protected, while also staying true to our commitment to combat all forms of hate, extremism, antisemitism, racism, and discrimination, including those harming LGBTQ+ and other communities. 


In that regard, we are pleased that the bill includes additional clarifications regarding the rights of religious and other non-profit institutions unrelated to marriage and protecting their non-profit status. We look forward to the Senate's final passage of the bill and urge the House to pass the updated Senate bill.