Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito sent a letter along with more than 400 other Republican leaders calling on the US Senate to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which would protect marriage equality for LGBTQ people.
“We stand with the 71% of Americans today, including a majority of registered Republicans, who support the freedom to marry for all Americans,” the letter states. “Passing the Respect for Marriage Act will remove any uncertainty for the more than one million Americans who are building families, taking on the commitment and responsibilities associated with marriage, and caring for the one they love.”
Reports Massive.com:
Former Gov. Jane Swift also signed the letter, spearheaded by Centerline Action — a nonprofit that works “to advance centrist policy solutions capable of defending core constitutional freedoms and liberties” — and Conservatives Against Discrimination, a coalition of conservative who support nondiscrimination laws for the LGBTQ community. The 410 signers so far affirmed the pending legislation, which passed 267-157 in the U.S. House of Representatives in July with 47 Republican votes, “treats all American families as each of us would want to be treated.”
“As Republicans, Libertarians and politically independent conservatives, we believe strong families and lasting relationships strengthen communities, and civil marriage is a fundamental freedom central to individual liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” the letter unveiled [yesterday] morning states.
The bill, should it move forward in Congress, would repeal the definition of marriage as between a man and woman, as well as the definition of a spouse as someone from the opposite sex. Instead, the bill safeguards same-sex and interracial marriages.
“We stand with the 71% of Americans today, including a majority of registered Republicans, who support the freedom to marry for all Americans,” the brief letter continues. “Passing the Respect for Marriage Act will remove any uncertainty for the more than one million Americans who are building families, taking on the commitment and responsibilities associated with marriage, and caring for the one they love.”
Read the complete Masslive.com story here.
Not a subscriber? Sign up today for a free subscription to Boston Spirit magazine, New England’s premier LGBT magazine. We will send you a copy of Boston Spirit 6 times per year and we never sell/rent our subscriber information. Click HERE to sign up!
