N.J. Congressman Has Change of Heart on Gay Marriage

New Jersey congressman Steve Rothman announced this week that he supports the legalization of same-sex marriage, according to the Bergen Record.

The article says Rothman's change in position was motivated by the recent marriage of his lesbian stepdaughter (and the subsequent addition of three new stepchildren to the family).

“Life can be short and hurtful for some,” the congressman explained to the Record. “Anytime anyone in the community speaks out against discrimination, it advances the cause of ending discrimination.”

Rothman, a Democrat, has joined 51 other representatives in the LGBT Equality Caucus, which is geared toward raising awareness of LGBT issues in Congress. (The Advocate)

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Name: Leonard Myron
Date posted: 6/23/2008 5:50:00 PM
Hometown: Edgewater, New Jersey

Comment:
I'm proud to be represented by a Congresssman who supports equal rights for ALL of us. Kudos to Steve Rothman. You'll continue to get my vote and I'll try to persuade everyone I know in my congressional district to give you theirs as well.
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Name: A. Francesca Jenkins
Date posted: 6/23/2008 4:03:00 PM
Hometown: Fort Lee

Comment:
Congratulations Steve Rothman. You came around on the gay issue just like you came around on Iraq. You demonstrate there is hope for growth for our leaders. Some of you do listen. You are also a supporter of the cause of Tibet and Burma. Now, if you can just stop talking about how "delicate" it is communicating with the Chinese government, which is just plain ruthless and diabolical, and push for an international tribunal regarding the horrific human rights abuses of that country in China, Tibet, Burma, Sudan, Nepal, and their support of regimes in Burma and Sudan, and if you will push for media getting into Burma and Tibet, where repression and brutality are truly etched. Continue to push for freedom for gays and all people at home, but also support human rights around the world!
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Name: Michael Mulwaka
Date posted: 6/23/2008 10:48:00 AM
Hometown: New Brunswick

Comment:
change oin heart? or did pictures of him posing proudly at his step daughter's wedding surface as poeple Rothman "realize" that gay people are in thousands and thousands of families we'll likely see more changes of heart, until then we'll just deal with the politicians that choose to demonize. further, I think Britney Spears and Pamela Anderson are more of a threat to families than commited same sex partners

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