Twelve Republican senators joined all Democrats to move forward on the bill, the "Respect for Marriage Act," including: Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Rob Portman of Ohio, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Roy Blunt of Missouri, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, and Todd Young of Indiana.

Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska did not vote.

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky voted against the Respect for Marriage Act but refused to stake out a public position before the vote. Sen. John Thune of North Dakota, the GOP senator responsible for enforcing party discipline on important votes, also voted no, though he did not urge Republicans to oppose it.

Democrats needed 10 Republicans to overcome the Senate's 60-vote filibuster and begin formal debate on the bill.

The legislation is now on a glide path to final passage, which would require just 51 votes and is likely to happen after the Senate's Thanksgiving recess, CNN reported.

[Wednesday's] vote came despite the objections of many of the most prominent conservative groups in the United States, including the Heritage Foundation and Alliance Defending Freedom, thousands of Christian churches and institutions, and the overwhelming majority of Republican voters who oppose federal legislation to codify homosexual "marriage."

The Respect of Marriage Act makes the redefinition of marriage the law of the land, even in the event that the Supreme Court overturns its 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision that mandates legal recognition of same-sex "marriage" nationwide.

The bill repeals the unenforced Defense of Marriage Act, which recognized marriage at the federal level as a union of one man and one woman and guaranteed states' right to uphold traditional marriage, and requires the federal government and all 50 states to recognize homosexual "marriages" lawfully performed in any state.

It also poses grave threats to religious freedom, as numerous social conservative and religious liberty organizations have repeatedly warned... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Continue reading here.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Texas Judge Wins Big After Faith-Based Stand on Marriage, Awarded $640K

'HEINOUS': White House Condemns Judge's Order Mandating 'Woke' Ideology at National Parks

Antifa Members Convicted in Texas ICE Attack Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Terms

New York City's Socialist 'Tsunami' Is Only the Latest Weirdness from the Big Apple

Trump Declares 'National Emergency,' Demands Housing Overhaul Bill Be Scrapped in SAVE Act Push

Senate RINOS Too Busy Scolding Trump to Pass Voter ID Bill

Lebanon a Major Sticking Point in US-Iran Discussions as Rubio Visits UAE to Reassure Allies on MoU

Biden DEA Let 1M Fentanyl Pills Flow to Streets, Whistleblower Lawyer Says

Supreme Court: Border Officers Can Suspend Criminal Illegals' Permanent Status

How China Is Poisoning America With Parkinson's

455 People Charged for $6.5B In Health Care Fraud Schemes, Says Acting AG Todd Blanche

US Senate Passes Landmark Bipartisan Housing Bill, Sends to House

Foreign-born, Biden-appointed Federal Judge Declares That Common-Sense Election Integrity Is Illegal

Trans-Identifying Democrat Goes to Prison for Sex Crimes against Children

California Democrat Lawmaker Says Christians Cannot Claim Rainbow

Major League Baseball Admits They Mistreated Christian Players, after Senator Hawley, DOJ Get Involved

After Second Win in World Cup, US Men's Team Prays on the Field, Honoring God

'Incredible' Archaeological Discovery Reveals Jewish Connection to Jerusalem's Ancient History

DOJ to Investigate MLB's Threat to Discipline Players for Bible Verses on 'Pride' Hats

Children's Hospital Doctors Refuse to Perform 'Gender Transition' Mutilation on Kids Despite Liberal Court Order