More than 400 current and former establishment GOP officials have signed a letter calling on U.S. lawmakers to enshrine the same-sex marriage bill into law before the vote likely hits the Senate floor before the end of the month.
Former Republican National Committee chairman and President Bush reelection campaign manager Ken Mehlman, who has since revealed he practices homosexuality, led the effort to gain support for the bill and partnered with a new nonprofit group called Centerline Action, per The Washington Post.
“We call on the U.S. Senate to pass the Respect for Marriage Act and reaffirm that marriage for gay and lesbian couples is settled law,” the letter reads.
The letter states that passing the Respect for Marriage Act would “remove any uncertainty for the more than one million Americans who are building families, taking on the responsibilities and commitment associated with marriage, and caring for the one they love.”
“As Republicans and 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 reads.
The letter comes a week after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) vowed to hol ...
