The proposed federal legislation to safeguard same-sex marriages has received the backing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The faith, which has nearly 17 million members, said that although it opposes same-sex marriage and sexual intimacy, it would support rights for same-sex couples as long as they don’t infringe upon the rights of religious groups’ to believe as they choose.
“As we work together to preserve the principles and practices of religious freedom together with the rights of LGBTQ individuals, much can be accomplished to heal relationships and foster greater understanding,” the church stated on its website.
The US Senate will take the first key vote on Wednesday on the Respect for Marriage Act legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriage.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken a more welcoming stance to LGBTQ people in recent years. In the past, the church declared that same-sex attraction is not a sin, but maintained that acting on it was.
The legislation would require states to recognize all marriages that were legal where they were performed. It would also protect interracial marriages by requiring states to recognize legal marriages regardless of “sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.”