The  on Wednesday passed a procedural hurdle to end debate on the Respect for Marriage Act, a House-passed bill that would enshrine same-sex marriage rights into law. 

The bill broke a Senate filibuster with 62 lawmakers voting 'yes,' including 12 Republicans.

The bill will now go to a final vote which will likely occur after , before the revised version goes back to the House for a final vote and the bill heads to President Biden's desk. 

 had promised to push through the gay marriage bill while they still control both chambers. 

They had warned that gay marriage and even interracial marriage rights could be at risk after the  overturned Roe v.

Wade. 

Their warnings came after Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in an opinion that privacy rights such as gay marriage and contraception could be 'revisited' after the legal ruling establishing a right to an abortion was overturned. 

Republicans who voted no said it was 'unnecessary' because Obergefell is 'settled into law' and has 'no chance of being overturned'. 

Wisconsin GOP Senator Ron Johnson said: 'The Democrats have used this to create a state of fear over a settled issue in order to further divide Americans for their political benefit.

'Religious liberty should be upheld for all and those with sincerely held religious beliefs should not be discriminated against for their views on marriage,' he added. 

President Biden celebrated the Senate passing the first hurdle by saying 'love is love' and 'Americans should have the right to marry the person they love'.