Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska has become the latest Republican lawmaker to come out in support of the freedom to marry. Murkowski is the third sitting Republican Senator following Mark Kirk (IL) and Rob Portman (OH) to make the argument for marriage equality.
"This is a hard issue. It is hard because marriage is such a deeply personal issue," Murkowski told Anchorage television station KTUU. "There may be some that when they hear the position that I hold that are deeply disappointed. There may be some that embrace the decision that I have made."
"I recognize that it is an area that as a Republican I will be criticized for," she added.
The media and the American people can no longer regard marriage as simply a partisan issue, or even a conservative vs. liberal issue. This is a human issue, on which people on both sides of the aisle increasingly agree. In fact, Cindy McCain, wife of John McCain, says that over the next few years, that agreement will become even more pronounced.
From the New Civil Rights Movement:
“You’re going to see a major turn,” McCain said on Monday, according to The Wrap. “By the next presidential election I think this will be an issue that will be very much agreed on by both parties.”
As more people listen to the stories of the men and women who are actually affected by laws surrounding marriage - and ignore the bluster of those who merely have unsubstantiated opinions about it - support will continue to grow, among all Americans.