A US politician has broken down in tears after making a speech about same-sex marriage where she urged her colleagues to vote against the bipartisan bill.
The bill is aimed at protecting same-sex marriage, which is known as the Respect for Marriage Act.
The Respect for Marriage Act requires states to recognise any marriage made in another state.
Advert
It removes the previous Defense of Marriage Act, defined as a marriage between a man and a woman.
While discussing the bill in the House of Representatives, GOP Rep. Vicky Hartzler broke down and cried in front of her fellow politicians. Watch it below:
But before all that, Hartzler spent the first two minutes of her speech criticising the bill, claiming that its 'only purpose is to hand the federal government a legal bludgeoning tool to drive people of faith out of the public square and silence anyone who dissents.'
As her voice began to quiver, the Republican said: "This is yet another step toward the Democrats goal of dismantling the traditional family, silencing voices of faith and permanently undoing our country's God woven foundation.
Advert
"This is the Democrats' priority. Well, Mr. Speaker, I'll tell you my priority - protect religious liberty, protect people of faith and protect Americans who believe in the true meaning of marriage."
She added while breaking into a full sob: " I hope and pray that my colleagues will find the courage to join me in opposing this misguided, and this dangerous bill."
.png)
She was not the only person breaking down in tears in the House, as Speaker Nancy Pelosi also got emotional.
Advert
But she was wiping tears away for the opposite reason as she celebrated the bill being passed.
In what will be one of the last bills to pass under her leadership, Pelosi choked up as she banged the gavel several times on the desk to announce the passing of the bill.
All 219 Democrats in the House of Representatives voted in favour of the bill alongside 39 Republicans.
One other Republican politician voted 'present' and four decided not to vote.
Advert
This meant a 258-169 made its way to President Biden, making it a comfortable bill passing.
The right to same-sex marriage has been legal in all 50 US states since 2015 following a ruling from the Supreme Court.
But if the Supreme Court were to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, then individual states could outlaw gay marriage, but would have to recognise same-sex married couples.
Callum Jones