In February 2021, Maria Elvira Salazar voted against the Equality Act, which sought to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation by amending the Civil Rights and Fair Housing Acts (Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald).
Salazar initially voted in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act in July 2022, which aimed to protect same-sex marriage rights at the federal level (South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Orlando Sentinel).
In December 2022, Salazar switched her vote and opposed the final passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, citing concerns over religious protections not being included in the final version (South Florida Sun-Sentinel).
This vote switch drew criticism from supporters of LGBTQ rights and some media, who accused Salazar of inconsistency and questioned her commitment to protecting marriage equality (Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald).
Salazar's record indicates a mixed approach to LGBTQ rights legislation, with votes both for and against significant federal protections, opening her up to criticism for shifting positions and political vulnerability on these issues.
2021: Maria Elvira Salazar Voted Against The Equality Act In February According to Miami Herald, "She said her decision to run for Congress was prompted by Salazar's vote in February against the Equality Act, a bill that would prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation by amending the Civil Rights Act and Fair Housing Act." [Miami Herald, 8/4/21]
2021: Salazar Votó Contra La Ley De Igualdad En Febrero According to El Nuevo Herald, "Explicó que su decisión de postularse al Congreso fue impulsada por el voto de Salazar en febrero contra la Ley de Igualdad, un proyecto de ley que prohíbe la discriminación basada en la identidad de género y la orientación sexual mediante la modificación de la Ley de Derechos Civiles y la Ley de Igualdad en la Vivienda." [El Nuevo Herald, 8/4/21]
2021: Salazar Voted Against The Equality Act According to Miami Herald, "Perez said last month that Salazar's vote against the Equality Act, a bill that would prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, was the 'straw that broke the camel's back' to prompt a run for Congress." [Miami Herald, 9/15/21]
2021: Salazar Voted Against The Equality Act, According To Janelle Pérez According to El Nuevo Herald, "Pérez dijo el mes pasado que el voto de Salazar en contra de la Ley de Igualdad, un proyecto de ley que prohibiría la discriminación basada en la identidad de género y la orientación sexual, fue la 'gota que derramó el vaso' para impulsar una candidatura al Congreso." [El Nuevo Herald (Miami, Florida), 9/17/21]
July 2022: Maria Salazar Voted For The Respect for Marriage Act According to South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "A larger share of Florida's congressional Republicans - six of 16 - voted 'yes.' The supporters included South Florida Republican U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Gimenez, Brian Mast and Maria Salazar." [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 7/31/22]
July 2022: Salazar Supported Respect for Marriage Act According to Orlando Sentinel, "The supporters included South Florida Republican U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Gimenez, Brian Mast and Maria Salazar." [Orlando Sentinel, 8/1/22]
December 2022: María Salazar Switched To 'No' Vote On Respect For Marriage Act Final Passage According to South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "The 'no' votes came from Republican U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Brian Mast and Maria Salazar, all of whom voted 'yes' in July." [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 12/9/22]
December 2022: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Criticized Salazar's Vote Change According to South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "Maria Elvira Salazar's vote change shows Floridians that she is willing to say and do anything to get elected. Salazar's shameless vote against the Respect for Marriage Act sends a clear message that she doesn't believe people's right to marry whomever they love should be protected," Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Tommy Garcia said in a statement. [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 12/9/22]
2022: Fabiola Santiago Reported María Salazar Voted Against Respect for Marriage Act According to an opinion piece by Fabiola Santiago in Miami Herald, "Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, who represents increasingly right-wing and politically hysterical Coral Gables, and Mario Diaz-Balart, whose district spans from MAGA-red Hialeah-Miami Lakes into Naples, both switched prior Yes votes -- taken before the Nov. 8 midterms when they were up for reelection -- to No." [Fabiola Santiago - Miami Herald, 12/9/22]
2022: Fabiola Santiago Reported María Salazar Voted Against Respect for Marriage Act According to an opinion piece by Fabiola Santiago in El Nuevo Herald, "La congresista María Elvira Salazar [...] cambiaron sus votos anteriores del Sí-- emitidos antes de las elecciones intermedias del 8 de noviembre cuando estaban en campaña de reelección-- al No." [Fabiola Santiago - El Nuevo Herald, 12/12/22]
July 2022: María Elvira Salazar Voted Against Codifying Same-Sex Marriage Rights Into Federal Law According to Bradenton Herald, "Voting no: Rutherford, Waltz, Posey, Webster, Bilirakis, Franklin, Buchanan, Steube, Mast, Donalds, Diaz-Balart, Gimenez, Salazar" in reference to HR 8404, a bill to codify same-sex marriage rights. [Bradenton Herald (Florida), 11/7/22]
December 2022: Salazar Cited Lack Of Religious Protections In Final Respect For Marriage Act Version According to South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "Salazar, in a statement, said she was 'disappointed to see the final House version of the Respect for Marriage Act did not include full protections for churches and Americans with sincerely held religious beliefs. ... However, we cannot pass laws that advance one interest and bypass long-held legal protections for others.'" [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 12/9/22]
2022: Fabiola Santiago Claimed María Salazar Misled Voters With Vote Change on Marriage Rights According to an opinion piece by Fabiola Santiago in El Nuevo Herald, "Así, descaradamente, mintiéndole a los votantes. La comunidad LGBTQ+ deberá recordar con qué facilidad estos miembros de la Cámara descartaron sus intereses vitales y se negaron a proteger la santidad de la vida familiar." [Fabiola Santiago - El Nuevo Herald, 12/12/22]