U.S. Reps Scott (D-GA) and Schrader (D-OR) announce support for the freedom to marry

May 06, 2013

This week, two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. David Scott (D-GA) and Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) announced their support for the freedom to marry for same-sex couples.  

At the end of April, Rep. Schrader issued a statement announcing his support for marriage. With his announcement, all Democratic members of Congress in Oregon support marriage. He said:

After many discussions with my constituents, I have decided to support marriage equality. I recently traveled on the civil rights pilgrimage to Selma, Alabama with the Faith and Politics Institute. This trip reaffirmed my commitments to civil rights for all, including gay and lesbian Americans. I supported civil unions in the Oregon Legislature. I now believe that while religious institutions should retain the right to perform marriages as they please, the government should not deny the rights of same sex couples to receive marriage licenses. 

On Friday, Rep. Scott issued a statement declaring: ""Congressman Scott fully supports marriage equality." 

Last week, one of Rep. Scott's constituents wrote into LGBT blog Joe My God explaining that he and his partner met with Congressman Scott. The constituent, Rob, said:

My partner & I met with our congressman, Rep. David Scott, yesterday and he told us that he completely supports marriage equality. He stated that he was a guest at Barney Frank's wedding. He said that he would be willing to look at the Respect for Marriage Act as a co-sponsor if it is reintroduced in this Congress.

Last month, Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN) and Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) also announced their support.  

This Spring, over a dozen U.S. Senators announced that they support ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. Now, for the first time ever, a majority of U.S. Senators support the freedom to marry. Read all of the recently supportive Senators' statements announcing their support HERE.