Biden signs Respect for Marriage Act, reflecting his and the country's evolution.
The president spoke before a crowd of thousands gathered to celebrate the federal protections in the Respect for Marriage Act.
That's far from a majority of Republicans, and it's reflective of the fact that rank-and-file Republican voters have lagged in support of same-sex marriage.
In 1958, when Gallup first asked the question, just 4% said they approved of marriage between Black people and white people.
But by the late-'90s and early 2000s, support for interracial marriage soared and, by 2021, approval hit a sky-high 94%.
As vice president, Biden got out ahead of President Obama in advocating for same-sex marriage — on national television.
The potential for its overturning was the impetus for passing the Respect for Marriage Act in the first place. »
