Congress is considering making same-sex marriage federal law – a political scientist explains how this issue became less polarized over time

A same-sex marriage supporter waves a rainbow flag outside the Supreme Court in 2015. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

While public opinion and different state laws on abortion rights are sharply dividing the country, there’s growing indication that most people agree on another once-controversial topic – protecting same-sex marriage.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on July 19, 2022, to enshrine same-sex marriage into law with a bipartisan vote – all 220 Democratic representatives voted in favor, joined by 47 Republican colleagues.