Watch the video: US Senate votes bipartisan for same-sex marriage protection bill.
STORY: The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed a bill by a bipartisan majority designed to protect federal recognition of same-sex marriage. The bill was filed over fears that the Supreme Court could overturn a 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. In June, the Supreme Court overturned the country’s abortion law. The bill passed by a vote of 61 to 36, requiring 60 to pass. Twelve Republicans supported the bill, along with 49 Democrats. The narrow draft law requires all US states to recognize same-sex marriages as long as they are legal in a state. However, the draft does not prevent individual states from banning same-sex marriages or marriages between people of different skin colors.