Today,
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced that she supports marriage
equality. Murkowski joins two of her Republican colleagues – Senator Rob Portman of Ohio and Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois – in endorsing the right of committed and loving gay and lesbian couples to marry.
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin released the following statement in response to the news:
“Senator Murkowski’s courageous and principled announcement today sends
a clear message that marriage equality must come to all 50 states in
this country. As the Supreme Court prepares to rule in two landmark
marriage cases this month, a growing bipartisan coalition is standing up
for the right of all couples to marry—and there is no turning back that
tide.
“We hope other fair-minded conservatives like Senator Murkowski stand
up and join her. Alaska may be nicknamed ‘the Last Frontier,’ but we’ve
got to make sure that LGBT Alaskans don’t have to wait to find justice.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski joins a growing number of elected and
rank-and-file Republicans vocally supporting marriage equality. Earlier
this year, a pro-equality amicus brief signed by more than 100 prominent
Republicans was submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in the Hollingsworth v. Perry
case. And a number of recent polls have shown an emerging Republican
coalition for marriage—including a clear majority of conservative youth.
Senator Lisa Murkowski supported both the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
I could not be more proud of her! After she won her last election (in which the Republican powers that be threw her under the bus), she has been much more independent. I believe she is voting her conscience. We are lucky to have Murkowski and Begich representing us up here in Alaska. Now, if we could only do something about Don Young! :/
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