Why a Senator With a Terrible Record on LGBT Rights Voted to Protect Same-Sex Marriage

Sen. Cynthia Lummis isn’t exactly the avatar for LGBT rights in Washington. However, the conservative Republican took to the Senate floor to explain why she had voted against a procedural delay on Nov. 16 for a measure that would protect some rights for LGBT and interracial couples to wed, and why she would shortly vote for a repeal of the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act. It was quite a jarring break for a figure who had scored a consistent zero on her LGBT record in the House and an only slightly better grade for her time in the Senate, according to the Human Rights Campaign.