Pa. Sen. Casey Now Supports Gay Marriage
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey announced Monday that he favors gay marriage, the latest of several lawmakers to change positions on the issue now before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Casey said he made the shift after reviewing the legal, public policy and civil rights questions involved, as well as letters from Pennsylvania families.
"If two people of the same sex fall in love and want to marry, why would our government stand in the way?" Casey said. "At a time when many Americans lament a lack of commitment in our society between married men and women, why would we want less commitment and fewer strong marriages?"
NewsRadio 1020 KDKA's Bill Rehkopf talked with Charlie Gerow from Central Pennsylvania's Quantum Communications about the political effects of Senator Casey's stance.
You can listen to that here:
Charlie Gerow
In November, as he successfully sought a second term, Casey said he favored same-sex civil unions but did not take a position on same-sex marriage. He previously voted to let gays and lesbians serve openly in the military and to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
"Elected public officials have an abiding obligation to refrain from demonizing and dividing people for partisan or political gain," Casey said. "Rather, Democrats and Republicans should come together and find areas of agreement to do what's best for the country, including lesbian and gay Americans."
Last week the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a pair of cases that could dramatically alter the legal landscape for gay marriage.
One of the cases involves the Defense of Marriage of Act. Casey said he now wants to repeal the law, passed and signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996, which prevents legally married gay couples from receiving federal benefits available to others.
Casey, a Roman Catholic from Scranton, opposes abortion rights except in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is in danger.
Several other Democratic senators who, like Casey, represent swing states, have recently made similar announcements.
Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, announced his support for gay marriage in states that choose to allow it, saying his stance began to change in 2011, when his college-age son told him he was gay.
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