Somehow, this got lost in the DeLay-dominated Tuesday headlines. From Associated Press, via
SFGate:
Sen. Russ Feingold, a potential presidential candidate, said Tuesday he supports giving gays and lesbians the right to marry, again positioning himself to the left of possible 2008 rivals.
"Gay and lesbian people in our country are fighting a mean-spirited movement to harm them and to discriminate against them," Feingold, D-Wis., said in a telephone interview. "I stand with them against that movement, and I'm proud to stand with them."
This, in my opinion, is big news - especially for a potential 2008 presidential candidate. And why should we be surprised? Feingold is leading the party in terms of justice, conviction, and a refusal to mince words for the sake of "political correctness."
But this, in a very real way, is politically correct. And it's important here in Wisconsin, because the Rethugs have successfully gotten the Constitutional ban on November's ballot. Remember, Feingold has some major clout here at home.
More from National Gay and Lesbian Task Force website:
Feingold said over the weekend that he strongly opposes the proposed civil unions and marriage ban facing Wisconsin voters and supports the right of same-sex couples to marry: "As I said at the Kenosha County listening session, gay and lesbian couples should be able to marry and have access to the same rights, privileges and benefits that straight couples currently enjoy. Denying people this basic American right is the kind of discrimination that has no place in our laws, especially in a progressive state like Wisconsin. The time has come to end this discrimination and the politics of divisiveness that has become part of this issue."
As a result of this announcement, Feingold becomes the fourth U.S. senator to support marriage equality, along with Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
In recognition of Feingold's announcement, the Task Force will present its 2006 National Leadership Award to the senator at its national dinner in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2006.