In the wake of President Obama's endorsement of marriage equality, the dominoes just keep falling. Last night, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) came out in support of marriage equality and the repeal of DOMA, after months of waffling. Like many of us have been saying all along, the President's words of endorsement have brought the Democratic Party into an entirely different universe. All of a sudden, it is much more difficult for a Democratic politician to be opposed to marriage equality. That's the really beautiful thing about the President's endorsement.
Well, add another "evolution" to the list. Or, rather, "kinda-sorta evolution." It's not a sweeping endorsement, and it's full of qualifications. In fact, in contrast to President Obama, he still personally opposes marriage equality. But Harry Reid has come out in favor of the legal right of gays and lesbians to get married. In some ways, it's a baby step. In other ways, for somebody as religious and as opposed to marriage equality as Harry Reid has always been (he did vote for DOMA), it's rather big. Follow me below the fold.
From Reid's news release:
My personal belief is that marriage is between a man and a woman. But in a civil society, I believe that people should be able to marry whomever they want, and it’s no business of mine if two men or two women want to get married. The idea that allowing two loving, committed people to marry would have any impact on my life, or on my family’s life, always struck me as absurd.
In talking with my children and grandchildren, it has become clear to me they take marriage equality as a given. I have no doubt that their view will carry the future.
I handled a fair amount of domestic relations work when I was a practicing lawyer, and it was all governed by state law. I believe that is the proper place for this issue to be decided as well.
Obviously, I would prefer a personal endorsement of marriage equality as a constitutional right rather than a personal opposition to marriage equality and support for states being able to decide on the issue. It's not a full evolution by any means. But for Harry Reid, I think this is pretty big. And I welcome the news. At least he recognizes that religious opposition to marriage equality cannot influence the law in a civil society. I hope he soon comes all the way.
As I said in my diary on Jack Reed last night, equality is marching on. Even if some of the steps are baby steps, we're seeing more progress now that President Obama is onboard.