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Biden holds up his pen jubilantly – he had just signed the law
PHOTO: KEVIN LAMARQUE / REUTERS
US President Joe Biden has signed federal law protecting same-sex marriages.
"This law and the love that protects it defeats hate in all its forms," Biden said at a signing ceremony outside the White House.
Numerous guests were present, including the owner of the US nightclub in Colorado Springs, popular with the gay, lesbian and trans community, where five people were shot dead in November.
The American pop legend Cyndi Lauper (69, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun") performed the song "True Colors".
The singer praised the move.
"Now we can love who we love, which sounds strange," said Lauper in the US capital Washington.
She is very grateful to US President Joe Biden for this.
People could sleep more peacefully now.
Lauper was invited as a guest star for the law signing on Tuesday.
The singer campaigns for the rights of the LGBTQ community.
The US Congress passed the law last week.
It is considered a milestone in the fight against discrimination.
In fact, same-sex marriages are legalized by a Supreme Court decision.
But after recent decisions by the Supreme Court, the US Democrats have campaigned for protection under federal law.
The law does not force any US state to allow same-sex couples to marry.
But it does require states to recognize all marriages legally contracted elsewhere.
aeh/dpa