Maine Sen. Susan M. Collins became the fourth Republican senator to openly support gay marriage when she affirmed Wednesday her support for same-sex unions in a questionnaire by The Bangor Daily News.
“A number of states, including my home state of Maine, have now legalized same-sex marriage, and I agree with that decision,” Ms. Collins said in response to the question.
Her response makes her one of only four GOP senators that openly support same-sex marriage — the others are Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio, Mark Kirk of Illinois and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
Although Ms. Collins continues to believe that gay marriage is an issue for each state to decide for itself, a staffer confirmed her personal support of the issue on Wednesday.
“Nearly 44 percent of Americans live in a state where same-sex couples can be legally married, and I believe this number will only continue to grow,” Ms. Collins said, The Bangor Daily News reported.
A long-time ally of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, Ms. Collins twice voted against amendments to the Constitution that would have codified into law that marriage is the union between one man and one woman, and also co-sponsored the legislation that overturned “don’t ask, don’t tell” — the Pentagon’s ban on openly gay men and women serving in the military, reports The Bangor Daily News.
• Jennifer Pompi can be reached at jpompi@washingtontimes.com.
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