Miami-Dade Republicans support same-sex, interracial marriage. We’re shocked, but thrilled | Opinion

Hoping to bulletproof the wishes of many Americans, plus circumvent more intrusions into our privacy rights by a conservative Supreme Court, the U.S. House on Tuesday passed a federal protection bill for same-sex and interracial marriage rights. It’s a good move that speaks volumes about letting consenting adults love whom they want. Now, we hope the legislation survives a Senate vote.

Here’s what makes the the vote unique. The Respect for Marriage Act bill passed the Democratic-controlled chamber — no surprise there — by a vote of 267-157, with support from 47 Republicans. That’s the shocker.

Among those Republicans voting Yes were the three from Miami-Dade County: Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Gimenez and Maria Elvira Salazar. Really. We get that it’s an election year and that Salazar is seen as vulnerable, but still it’s of note that our congressional delegation went their own way. However, at least one says he was voting for state rights.

They landed on the right side of the fence on this issue, which we consider settled law. (Of course, some conservative Supreme Court nominees said the same thing about the dear departed Roe v. Wade.) Some are saying the fractured vote may be a sign of more division within the Republican Party. We’ll see.

In his statement to the Editorial Board, Diaz-Balart made it more about respecting and honoring state’s rights than marriage rights.

“The concept of all states respecting other states’ decisions on marriage laws is deeply rooted in American jurisprudence and tradition, and coincides with my position on reciprocity between states for concealed-carry permits,” he wrote in an email.

The House bill enshrines into federal law marriage rights not enumerated in the Constitution by codifying into law the federal protections for same-sex couples that were put in place in 2015 when same-sex marriage was a right under the 14th Amendment. In 1967, the Supreme Court ruled that laws banning interracial marriage violate the 14th Amendment’s equal protection and due process clauses.

The House bill, sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, comes after the Supreme Court’s decision last month to overturn Roe v. Wade and make the states’ responsible for abortion policy.

The bill is rooted on well-founded fears that marriage rights — and maybe access to contraception — are next.

The bill now goes to the Senate. We’re not holding our breath, but we implore Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott follow the path laid out by Miami-Dade’s three House Republicans.