Representative Julie Brownley (D-CA) has reintroduced legislation to replace gender-specific terms like "husband" and "wife" with gender-neutral alternatives such as "spouse" and "married person" in federal law. The bill, known as the Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act, aims to update legal language to reflect the Supreme Court's 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

Brownley argues that despite the Obergefell ruling, many federal laws still use outdated terminology that doesn't acknowledge the legal rights of same-sex couples. She emphasizes the importance of aligning federal code with the principle of marriage equality, particularly in light of what she perceives as threats to LGBTQ+ rights from the Supreme Court and certain state legislatures.

The proposed changes extend beyond simple spousal terms. Phrases like "husband and wife" would be replaced with "married couple," and references to "one man and one woman" would become "two people as spouses." Brownley believes this legislative update is crucial to demonstrate Congress's commitment to equality and ensure that federal law accurately reflects societal values.

This isn't the first time Brownley has championed this cause. She has introduced similar legislation in previous congressional sessions, dating back to 2017. The bill was initially introduced by former Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) in 2015 and garnered support from 39 Democratic co-sponsors in 2021.

Brownley contends that language in legal documents carries significant weight and that updating these terms is a common-sense step to ensure that federal law reflects the reality of marriage equality in the United States.