Laura Bush on Larry King Live
Last night, on Larry King Live, Laura Bush announced that she supports same-sex marriage. "I think there are a lot of people who have trouble coming to terms with that because they see marriage as traditionally between a man and a woman," said Laura Bush. "But I also know that when couples are committed to each other and love each other that they ought to have the same sort of rights that everyone has."
When Larry King asked Laura Bush if same-sex marriage was an area in which she disagreed with her husband, she replied by saying, "I guess that would be an area where we disagree."
Laura Bush is the latest major republican to come out in support same-sex marriage. Back in 2000, 2004, and 2009, Dick Cheney publicly announced that he supported same-sex marriage. His wife, Lynne Cheney, also supports marriage equality. Their position on the issue might have something to do with the fact that they have a lesbian daughter.
Republican backing doesn't stop there. Cindy McCain supports same-sex marriage as well, and announced it by posing for the No H8 campaign earlier this year. Cindy and John McCain have a daughter, Meghan, who also supports marriage equality, and even wrote a piece about it in the New York Daily News.
Surprisingly, it seems to be the big named Democrats that don't support marriage equality. Back in the 2004 election, Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry and running mate John Edwards both supported the right of gay couples to win the legal protections afforded married couples; however neither of them supported same-sex marriage. This is a similar position to President Barack Obama. So I have to sit back and think for a moment.
Laura Bush supports same-sex marriage. Dick and Lynne Cheney support same-sex marriage. Meghan and Cindy McCain support same-sex marriage. How it is possible that there are members of the Bush, Cheney, and McCain families that support same-sex marriage, but we still don't have marriage equality supporters in the Obama or Biden families?
Is it possible that the Republican party is trying to surpass the Democrats in regards to LGBT equality? Everyone knows that the Republicans need to do something major to reverse their declining support. This sounds very similar to what happened in the UK last week when the Conservative party released an equality manifesto supporting the re-classification of civil partnerships to marriage, making them the only major political party to back the change.
"Whether it’s our strong commitment to supporting marriage and civil partnerships," said Theresa May, Minister for Women and Equality, "or our proposals for flexible parental leave which will benefit parents regardless of their sexuality, the modern Conservative Party is committed to a fairer deal for gay people across Britain"
So what are your thoughts? Are Republicans becoming more accepting of LGBT equality? Scroll down to leave your comments.
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Comments
Are any Republican leaders currently in office supporting same-sex marriage? You'll still find many more elected Democrats supprting legislation to remove the barriers to same-sex marriage
I thought that Dan Savage had an interesting take on the wife/daughter trend, when he noted that Barbara Bush publicly broke with the party to support abortion rights 20 years ago, and if anything that's just become more ingrained in Republican dogma.
Bill Clinton has announced his support for gay marriage, and Chelsea's there with him. The divide might not be blue/red, but active/retired.
Looks like the wife's - not elected officials are supporting it publicly - and only after their husbands are either elected and in office or not going to run. Reluctance to declare allegiance to supporting queers is all about politics - if you are running -tone it down or you lose the conservative and evangelical vote. Period.
We have a lot of hearts and minds to change before a politician running for big offices can publicly be supportive. Show me a Republican, while running for high office that supports full rights for all people and then maybe you have a valid argument.
Otherwise the argument must continue to be that when people get to know gay people as their friends, family and neighbors that is when they they declare support for our rights.
Thank you Laura for coming out for Gay Marriage - certainly better late than never. I think the more times credible Republicans come out on national TV in support, the more it starts to sink in with average Americans so thank you Laura - totally made my hero of the week.
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