Congressional Support for Marriage Equality Lags Public's

The Human Rights Campaign has compiled a searchable database of where members of Congress stand on marriage equality, and it indicates Congress’s support lags that of the public.

A total of 181 Congress members — 36 senators and 145 representatives — are supportive; they account for 34% of the body’s membership. In contrast, recent polls have indicated that more than 50% of Americans support gay couples’ right to marry.

“It’s time for more of our leaders to get on the right side of history,” said HRC president Chad Griffin in announcing the database.

Other findings include that 72% of Democrats in Congress support marriage equality, with 9% opposed and 19% whose positions are unclear or unknown. There is a lone Republican in support, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida. Find more information here.