Freedom Oklahoma Statement on Respect for Marriage Act Signing

December 13, 2022

WASHINGTON DC –Today, in front of a crowd at the White House that included representatives from Freedom Oklahoma, President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, codifying protections for queer and interracial marriages. In response, Freedom Oklahoma issued the following statement: 

The following is attributable to Nicole McAfee, Freedom Oklahoma Executive Director: 

“We’re grateful to President Biden and the bipartisan legislators who moved the Respect for Marriage Act for this long overdue codification of protections for some queer marriages. And we know that this victory also serves as a reminder that 2SLGBTQ+ people urgently need protections outside of and beyond their marital status. 

Being in community with other 2SLGBTQ+ people at the White House to mark this occasion is a joyful indication of how far we’ve come, and a solemn reminder of how far we have to go. We’re so grateful to the advocates who paved the way for this step in marriage equality, and we’ll continue this work until we have our dignity respected at every level of government. The need for legislation like the Respect for Marriage Act reminds us that 2SLGBTQ+ people are not presumed to be included in the rights and liberties of so many of our existing legal documents and institutions, despite the fact we always have been and always will be here. 

We celebrate the queer families today who feel a bit safer from the onslaught of harm because these federal protections exist. We acknowledge that for so many in our community, today’s signing feels hollow, as real challenges just to survive exist on the ground in states like Oklahoma. We see you. We love you. We’ll keep fighting for the future where all 2SLGBTQ+ people have, not just the right to marry who they love, but the safety to thrive wherever we are.”