; Whereas there are an estimated 114,000 same-sex couples raising children in the United States; Whereas same-sex couples are seven times more likely than different-sex couples to be raising an adopted or foster child; Whereas same-sex couples may not be deprived of the right to marry and the protections and responsibilities of marriages in 29 other countries; Whereas the European Court of Justice requires that all European Union countries recognize same-sex couples’ marriages for immigration purposes; Whereas, on October 5, 2020, Supreme Court Justice Thomas issued a Statement, with which Justice Alito joined, concerning the Court’s denial of a petition for a writ of certiorari in Kim Davis v. David Ermold; Whereas the Statement improperly invites legal challenges to the Supreme Court’s important Obergefell precedent by announcing the Justices are seeking to grant review of a case that cleanly challenges that precedent in order to address what they characterize as a problem that only it can fix ; Whereas the Statement incorrectly asserts the Obergefell v. Hodges decision brands religious adherents as bigots ; Whereas the Statement wrongfully frames marriage equality for same-sex couples and religious liberty interests as mutually exclusive; Whereas marriage equality for same-sex couples does not impinge upon the rights of clergy or religious institutions by forcing them to solemnize the marriages of same-sex couples, just as they are free not to solemnize the marriages of couples of different faith traditions; Whereas although the rulings in Windsor v. United States, Obergefell v. Hodges, and Pavan v. Smith are Supreme Court precedents preventing the Federal and all State governments from marriage-related discrimination against same-sex couples, Federal legislation is needed to prevent discrimination against same-sex couples and LGBTQ individuals in the private sector; Whereas, on May 17, 2019, the House of Representatives passed the Equality Act in a bipartisan vote