Vice President Biden and Education Secretary Duncan endorse the freedom to marry

May 07, 2012

It's been a busy and important 24 hours for the freedom to marry. Sunday morning, Vice President Joe Biden became the highest ranking public official to support marriage for same-sex couples when he said on "NBC's Meet the Press" that he is "absolutely comfortable" with gay couples having the freedom to marry. Watch the video below:

Our Founder and President Evan Wolfson released the following statement, thanking Vice President Biden for vocalizing his support for the freedom to marry:

“I’ve known Vice President Biden since interning for him in the Senate in 1976.  The personal and thoughtful way he has spoken about his coming to support the freedom to marry reflects the same journey that a majority of Americans have now made as they’ve gotten to know gay families, opened their hearts and changed their minds. President Obama should join the Vice President, former Presidents Clinton and Carter, former Vice Presidents Gore and Cheney, Laura Bush, and so many others in forthright support for the freedom to marry."

And just one day later, Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, became the second cabinet official in the Obama administration to publicly announce his support for the freedom to marry. Duncan made the announcement on MSNBC’s television program Morning Joe, replying "Yes, i do," when asked if he supported the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. He joins the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Shaun Donovan, in his support.
 
We're glad to welcome Secretary Duncan to the growing number of political leaders who are speaking out against marriage discrimination. Evan released this statement just moments ago:

“Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s announcement this morning adds him to the drumbeat of Obama Administration members coming out in support of the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. Like Vice President Biden, former Presidents Clinton and Carter, former Vice Presidents Gore and Cheney, Laura Bush, and the majority of Americans, Secretary Duncan knows that loving and committed gay couples seek the freedom to marry for the same mix of reasons as other couples: to make a vow to one another, to share life with the person they love, and to protect their families. Standing up for the freedom to marry is not just the right thing to do, it's the right thing politically, and it's time for the President to stand on the right side of history.”
 
Freedom to Marry’s Democrats: Say I Do campaign has gained endorsements for a marriage plank in this year’s national Party Platform from prominent Democratic voices, including 22 Democratic Senators, the Chair of this year’s Democratic National Convention, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; four former chairs of the national Democratic Party; more than half a dozen co-chairs of President Obama’s reelection campaign; more than half a dozen State Democratic Party Chairs; and over 40,000 Democrats who’ve added their names to Freedom to Marry’s Democrats: Say I Do online petition. 
 
Click here to sign the petition urging the Democratic Party to endorse a marriage plank. 

 

 

 

View All Posts