Same Sex Marriage Quiz for your Member of Congress: Do you support marriage equality?
Read here the same sex marriage quotes of Members of Congress who say: Yes I do!
If a Member of Congress is not listed, you can submit a link to a webpage with a quote on same sex marriage equality here:
or
contact us with a direct quote.
AZ | CA | CO | GA | ME | MD | MA | MN |NV | NJ | NY | OH | OR | RI | TN | VA | WI
39 Members of Congress, all Democrats, representing 17 states say: Yes I Do!
ARIZONA - CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS (D)
"One of the most basic principles of our great nation is our respect for personal freedom, and I am committed to protecting the freedom of each and every American. The government should not determine what marriage is or is not. That is up to the people in the relationship. I also support equalizing the treatment of same-sex couples and families. The civil rights of all Americans should be honored and strengthened. That is one of my top priorities in Congress." (Source)
CALIFORNIA - SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NANCY PELOSI (D)
Nancy Pelosi as a guest on Fox's Neil Cavuto show on March 24, 2004:
"Can same sex couples marry?" Cavuto asked.
"Yes," Pelosi responded.
"So what the mayor of San Francisco is doing, you would approve of it?" Cavuto asked.
"Yes," Pelosi said. (Source)
On multiple other occasions Speaker Pelosi has reiterated her support for same sex marriage equality.
CALIFORNIA - SENATOR BARBARA BOXER (D)
"Prop 8 is a statewide ballot initiative that would put discrimination against same-sex couples into the California State Constitution. It is unfair, unnecessary, and wrong." (Source)
CALIFORNIA - SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D)
"The views of Californians on this issue have changed over time, and as a state, I believe we should uphold the ability of our friends, neighbors, and co-workers who are gay and lesbian to enter into the contract of marriage," (Source)
CALIFORNIA - CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE (D)
"Loving and committed same-sex couples should have the right to get married, receive legal recognition of their marriage in the eyes of the government, and exercise all the legal benefits associated with their marriage." (Source)
CALIFORNIA - CONGRESSWOMAN JACKIE SPEIER (D)
"Marriage equality is perhaps the most profound civil rights issue of our generation" (Source)
CALIFORNIA - CONGRESSWOMAN ELLEN TAUSCHER (D)
"This is the right decision for California and I hope the rest of America will follow suit. Marriage is a civil right. When we withhold it from one segment of the population we are doing a disservice to the principles of fairness and equality upon which our country was founded. I will continue to work in Congress to achieve this level of equality on the issue of marriage as well as related issues." (Source)
COLORADO - CONGRESSMAN JARED POLIS (D)
"I believe that two committed adults of the same sex should be able to enjoy full marriage rights in the United States and that no federal, state, or local jurisdiction should be able to deny any of the benefits of the marriage to same-sex couples." (Source)
GEROGIA - CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS (D)
"It is time to say forthrightly that the government's exclusion of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters from civil marriage officially degrades them and their families. It denies them the basic human right to marry the person they love. It denies them numerous legal protections for their families."
"This discrimination is wrong. We cannot keep turning our backs on gay and lesbian Americans. I have fought too hard and too long against discrimination based on race and color not to stand up against discrimination based on sexual orientation. I've heard the reasons for opposing civil marriage for same-sex couples. Cut through the distractions, and they stink of the same fear, hatred, and intolerance I have known in racism and in bigotry." (Source)
MAINE - CONGRESSWOMAN CHELLIE PINGREE (D)
"I
support the version of ENDA that includes gender identity. I also
support the rights of same-sex couples to obtain all the rights and
benefits of marriage -- there should not be a two-tiered system of
marriage in our country." (Source)
MARYLAND - CONGRESSMAN JOHN SARBANES (D)
John Sarbanes expressed support for marriage equality in a radio interview in the Marc Steiner Show and in other forums. Awaiting for a specific link.
MASSACHUSETTS - SENATOR TED KENNEDY (D)
"I congratulate the California Supreme Court on its recognition that true equality demands that all people have the right to marry and form families. Massachusetts has recognized the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry since 2004 and our experience has refuted the critics. We only strengthen our society when we allow all our citizens to enter into a solemn commitment to share in life's joys and difficulties." (Source)
MASSACHUSETTS - CONGRESSMAN BARNEY FRANK (D)
"I congratulate California's Supreme Court for recognizing that all of California's citizens are entitled to basic civil rights; and I can assure the people of the state that the result of this decision will be to improve the quality of life of tens of thousands of Californians who will now be able legally to express their love for each other, while having no negative effect whatsoever on the overwhelming majority of Californians who will choose not to marry someone of the same sex." (Source)
MASSACHUSETTS - CONGRESSMAN JIM McGOVERN (D)
"Gays can go to City Hall...and legally get married. Eight thousand couples have done so, and everything has stayed the same in Massachusetts. Life goes on. What you are saying to those 8,000 couples is that we want to affirmatively go and take away your rights -- we want to null and void your legal rights. That is shameful; that is insulting." (Source)
MASSACHUSETTS - CONGRESSMAN JOHN OLVER (D)
"Before millions of Americans, President Bush, who characterizes himself as a unifier, not a divider, stated his divisive belief that gay Americans do not deserve the right to marriage that all other Americans enjoy. I believe that gay and lesbian citizens should have the same rights and responsibilities as other citizens." (Source)
MINNESOTA - CONGRESSMAN KEITH ELLISON (D)
"I am very concerned about the fact that voters in a number of states came out in support of Constitutional amendments banning gay marriage and civil unions. These were blows to the rights of all people. I am not gay, but when my gay neighbor suffers from discrimination, then I suffer and so does the entire community." (Source)
MINNESOTA - CONGRESSMAN TIM WALZ (D)
"And the best thing that ever happened to me was to get married and I don't see a reason to deny that to anyone. So I'm pretty consistent on that, of where government should not be in our lives." (Source)
NEVADA - CONGRESSWOMAN SHELLEY BERKLEY (D)
"When I got married to my partner last year, Shelley called and left a message on my voice mail congratulating us and saying she was making a donation to the synagogue of the rabbi who married us to show her support." (Source)
NEW JERSEY - SENATOR FRANK LAUTENBERG (D)
"The government should get out of the business of telling same-sex couples in committed relationships that they can't marry. Anything else is not equality." (Source)
NEW JERSEY - CONGRESSMAN JOHN ADLER (D)
"I am torn," said Sen. John Adler, D-Cherry Hill, the committee chairman. "I probably would have gone further today...I suspect we will be back on this issue again." Talking a vote in the NJ State Senate to have marriage equality instead of civil unions. (Source)
NEW JERSEY - CONGRESSMAN ROB ANDREWS (D)
"I support marriage equality. The recent commission report on civil unions was pivotal in my thinking. The civil union law has failed to give gay couples equal rights." (Source)
NEW JERSEY - CONGRESSMAN RUSH HOLT (D)
"No marriage is made weaker because two women or two men are living together somewhere in New Jersey as a married couple." (Source)
NEW JERSEY - CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE (D)
"I hope the legislature now passes legislation that defines a union between same-sex couples as marriage." (Source)
NEW JERSEY - CONGRESSMAN STEVE ROTHMAN (D)
"Rothman did that this week by announcing he now supports legalizing same-sex marriage. This change in position is not because Rothman had a Jim McGreevey moment; Rothman had a Dick Cheney one. One of Rothman's stepdaughters is lesbian." (Source)
NEW YORK - SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (D)
"I believe in marriage equality." (Video Source)
NEW YORK - CONGRESSWOMAN YVETTE CLARKE (D)
"My position on same sex marriage has been consistent throughout my career in public service to the people of Central Brooklyn. I remain committed to work to ensure that all of our citizens have equal economic, civil and legal rights regardless of sexuality, gender or gender preference." (Source)
NEW YORK - CONGRESSWOMAN CAROLYN MALONEY (D)
"I am proud to be among the growing ranks of House Members who support full marriage equality for same-sex couples." (Source)
NEW YORK - CONGRESSMAN JERROLD NADLER (D)
"Governor Paterson's directive makes clear his commitment to provide equal treatment and protection for gay and lesbian couples that live in New York. While we remain determined to achieving full marriage equality in New York, this directive is a welcome step in the right direction. It is a strong affirmation of the simple fact that gays and lesbians deserve equal justice under the law. I applaud Governor Paterson for doing the right thing." (Source)
NEW YORK - CONGRESSMAN ANTHONY WEINER (D)
"As someone who has long fought against discrimination, I believe that the time has come to extend to all Americans the fundamental right to marry the person of their choosing, regardless of sexual orientation." (Source)
OHIO - CONGRESSMAN DENNIS KUCINICH (D)
"There should be a federal law that would allow gay couples to be married, rather than leaving the matter to the states. We cannot have states making separate rules with respect to basic human rights." (Source)
OREGON - SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY (D)
"Strongly supports marriage equality and will lead the way for equal rights in the U.S. Senate." (Source)
OREGON - SENATOR RON WYDEN (D)
He supports marriage equality. Need a quote.
OREGON - CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENAUER (D)
"As someone who recently married, I feel no threat to my relationship because others may want to pursue a lifelong and legal commitment to their partner. I support same-sex couples having this right, the same as any couple." (Source)
RHODE ISLAND - SENATOR SHELDON WHITEHOUSE (D)
"I support the right of states to allow same-sex marriage. It is wrong for the federal government to intervene in what has always been a state issue -- the regulation of marriage. I think it is particularly wrong to amend the Constitution to single out gay people and prevent them from exercising their rights." (Source)
RHODE ISLAND - CONGRESSMAN PATRICK KENNEDY (D)
"Discrimination against any individual because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is simply unacceptable. That's why I'm so proud to be a founding member of this caucus. The LGBT Equality Caucus will provide a crucial platform in our fight for comprehensive hate crimes legislation, marriage equality and an end to workplace discrimination. At this point in history, we have a unique opportunity to advance the cause of equality." (Source)
TENNESSEE - CONGRESSMAN STEVE COHEN (D)
When in the state Senate, he was the only vote opposing the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Read his positions on LGBT equality in his own words.
VIRGINIA - CONGRESSMAN JIM MORAN (D)
"He supports loving, monogamous couples getting married," said Dan Drummond, Moran's press secretary. "He believes that if two men or two women are in a loving relationship, who is to say they shouldn't?" (Source)
WISCONSIN - SENATOR RUSS FEINGOLD (D)
"Gay and lesbian couples should be able to marry and have access to the same rights, privileges and benefits that straight couples currently enjoy. Denying people this basic American right is the kind of discrimination that has no place in our laws, especially in a progressive state like Wisconsin. The time has come to end this discrimination and the politics of divisiveness that has become part of this issue." (Source)
Read also his superb speech against the Federal Marraige Amendment
WISCONSIN - CONGRESSWOMAN TAMMY BALDWIN (D)
"I believe in full marriage equality for gays and lesbians. Our constitutional system - the checks and balances between the three co-equal branches of government - was created to ensure the protection of minority rights, and throughout history many groups of individuals have sought such protections from their government. Today, people who want the protections of marriage laws for their same sex partnerships are petitioning their government." (Source)
Home >> Marriage Equality Now >> Same Sex Marriage Quiz (top)
