GOP lawmaker attended gay son's wedding 3 days after voting against same-sex marriage
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Link copied July 25, 2022, 9:17 PM UTC By Zachary Schermele
A Republican lawmaker attended his gay son's wedding just three days after joining the majority of his GOP colleagues in voting against a House bill that would codify federal protections for same-sex marriage.
The gay son of Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., confirmed to NBC News on Monday that he "married the love of [his] life" on Friday and that his "father was there." NBC News is not publishing the names of the grooms, neither of whom is a public figure.
Thompson's press secretary, Maddison Stone, also confirmed the congressman was in attendance.
"Congressman and Mrs. Thompson were thrilled to attend and celebrate their son's marriage on Friday night as he began this new chapter in his life," Stone said in an email, adding that the Thompsons are "very happy" to welcome their new son-in-law "into their family."
Gawker was the first to report on the nuptials in an article published Thursday, the day before the ceremony, though it was not reported whether the lawmaker would attend.
In an email last week to the local newspaper Centre Daily, Stone called the Respect for Marriage Act "nothing more than an election-year messaging stunt for Democrats in Congress who have failed to address historic inflation and out of control prices at gas pumps and grocery stores."
Thompson, who represents the state's 15th congressional district, was one of 157 House Republicans who voted against the bill on Tuesday. However, 47 of his GOP colleagues joined Democrats to pass the bipartisan measure following fears that existing same-sex marriage protections could be in the crosshairs of the conservative-leaning Supreme Court.
The Respect for Marriage Act is now being considered by the Senate, where 10 GOP lawmakers must join all 50 Democrats to send the legislation to the desk of President Joe Biden. One of five Republican senators who has already confirmed a yes vote on the bill is Rob Portman of Ohio, who declared his support for same-sex marriage in 2013 after his son came out as gay.
The bill comes at a time when 71% of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, supports same-sex marriage, according to a Gallup poll last month.
While support for same-sex marriage has grown among Republican voters and some Republican lawmakers, the most recent Republican National Committee platform — enacted in 2016 and renewed in 2020 — includes at least five references to marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman.
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Zachary Schermele
I’ve heard of “party over country,” but “party over your own son” is hard to believe.
At least he went to the wedding, I guess...
How anyone…any one…can dismiss that the sanctity of marriage is not a union of two individuals whom love and cherish one another but becomes an attempt to insert oneself into some political definition is beyond reasonable, beyond understanding, and thus beyond yet another thing that be legislated.
Yes, we have inflation and high gas prices. But what does it hurt to cast a yes vote for your own son? This guy is warped. Good for me but not for thee
I thought that. It is a simple quick thing that could be done and over with.
Thanksgiving dinner promises to be interesting in that household. I’m pretty sure of the two who will take the high road.
It’s passed time for the incessant need to make amends or apologies or having to fight for a right that is inherent, regardless of any qualifier.
Party over son, the new mantra.