President Joe Biden signed the historic Respect for Marriage Act, cementing into legislation federal safety for each same-sex and interracial marriages and delivering a victory for Democrats.

“At this time’s an excellent day. A day America takes an important step towards equality, towards liberty and justice, not only for some however for everybody,” Biden stated Tuesday throughout a ceremony on the White Home’s South Garden, calling the selection of whom to marry “some of the profound choices an individual could make.”

“The legislation acknowledges that everybody ought to have the best to reply these questions for themselves, with out authorities interference,” the president stated. “Now the legislation requires that interracial marriage and same-sex marriage have to be acknowledged as authorized in each state and the nation.”

The invoice signing on the White Home was a celebration for supporters of the measure, with distinguished members of the LGBTQ group and allies in attendance, and musical performances from Cyndi Lauper and others.

Biden additionally was joined by congressional leaders, together with Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer. Democrats have been wanting to enact the measure through the end-of-year session, whereas they nonetheless have majorities in each chambers of Congress.

Republicans will narrowly take management of the Home in January, and Democrats had expressed considerations that the US Supreme Court docket may reverse rights for same-sex couples. The justices in June overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade choice establishing a nationwide proper to an abortion.

In a concurring opinion, Supreme Court docket Justice Clarence Thomas stated the court docket ought to evaluation different “due course of precedents” together with the 2015 ruling that required all states to problem same-sex marriage licenses.

Biden on Tuesday stated Congress was performing “due to the acute Supreme Court docket,” which he stated had stripped away a proper “necessary to thousands and thousands of People that existed for half a century.”

The Home final week voted 258-169 to clear the measure, with 39 Home Republicans becoming a member of in help. The Home had beforehand handed the measure in July, however took it up once more after the Senate amended the invoice to incorporate provisions aimed an guaranteeing protections for non secular liberty.

Some Republicans have stated the laws is pointless and would infringe on non secular rights regardless of the Senate adjustments.

Biden additionally referenced his personal position in pushing for acceptance of same-sex marriages.

In Could 2012, then-Vice President Biden expressed his help for same-sex marriage throughout a tv interview — turning into the highest-ranking Democrat to publicly endorse the thought, forward of President Barack Obama.

“I received in hassle,” Biden joked on Tuesday.

Days later, Obama additionally expressed his help in an interview.