GOPer Attended Gay Son's Wedding, Voted Against Gay Marriage (Twice)
Despite the Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA) receiving federal approval to protect gay marriage (again), the bill received support from eight fewer Republicans than it did when it was first introduced in July.
And one of those Republicans, Representative Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania, voted no for the second time on passing the bill, despite having attended his son’s gay wedding in July.
In his wedding speech, which was posted to BuzzFeed News, Thompson spoke of raising children and said:
“As they grow and as they get a little older, we also hope and pray they’re going to find that one true love so that they have the opportunity to experience that. Someone to grow old with. So we’re just really thankful that you’re here.”
He also noted that parents “love it when [their children] find their one true love, especially when they become a part of our families then. That’s what we’re rooting for.”
Although showing glittering support for his son at his own wedding, Thompson still seems to think it isn’t fair for anybody else to share that feeling with their true loves.
Ahead of casting his vote, Thompson told Insider that “everybody is entitled to an opinion.”
“Individuals have the freedom and the right to choose who to grow old with in life,” he also told the Huffington Post. “However, the bill lacks the appropriate constitutional protections for religious liberty enshrined in the First Amendment.”
The original Respect for Marriage Act, which repeals the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that only allowed marriage to be between a man and a woman, stated any marriage would be recognized in a state where gay marriage is legal. Senate Republicans pushed for religious liberties, which prompted an amended version of the bill that would also exclude polygamous marriages.
12 Senate Republicans ended up voting in support of the bill, with several House Republicans changing their votes.
As for Thompson, he noted that he doesn’t “oppose” gay marriage and said, “I love my son, my son loves me, and he knows that I’m a principled man.”
Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) seemed surprised at Thompson’s vote, but Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the first openly gay senator, said, “I think that the important thing is that we listened, we addressed concerns, we added some requested clarity, and the bill has now passed both chambers.”
Halleloo.
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