Biden Signs Same-Sex Marriage Recognition Act

U.S. President Joe Biden signed the “Respect for Marriage Act” Tuesday at an event where American singer Cyndi Lauper performed her hit song “True Colors” before an audience of thousands of supporters of the law gathered on the White House lawn.

The new law provides federal recognition of same-sex marriages, prompted by fears that the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn legal support for such relationships.

Those assembled responded with thunderous applause after Biden signed the bill into law.

“Marriage is a simple proposition. Who do you love? And will you be faithful to the person you love? It’s no more complicated than that. The law recognizes that everyone should have the right to answer these questions for themselves,” Biden said, adding, “Today is a good day.”

Pop stars Cyndi Lauper and British singer Sam Smith performed at the event.

“Well, love wins this time,” Loper announced before beginning to sing.

Cyndi Lauper, 69, who rose to fame with her 1983 song “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” said the event brought peace of mind to families like hers and to Americans across the country.

“We can sleep easy today because our families are recognized and because we are now allowed to love the people we love, which sounds weird, but Americans can now love the people we love,” Cyndi Lauper, an LGBT activist who has been married to actor David Thornton since 1991, told reporters at a pre-show briefing.

Addressing the crowd before the signing, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the bill promotes equality between people.

“Everyone deserves to enjoy the magical blessing of building a union with a loved one,” she said.

U.S. Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, whose daughter and her wife are expecting a baby, called it “a day of jubilation.”