Republicans Offer Gay Marriage Support Ahead Of Supreme Court Case

Gay marriage has gained the support of a number of top Republicans ahead of a Supreme Court case on whether same sex marriage is a constitutional right.

The court will take on the gay marriage issue next week, hearing oral arguments that same-sex marriage should be a protected right. The case deals with the constitutionality of California’s gay marriage ban, Proposition 8, and the Defense of Marriage Act.

The New York Times, obtained a copy of the letter, in which more than 70 top Republicans offer support for gay marriage. The letter could mark an important turn in the gay marriage debate, as opposition appears to be weakening. The list of Republicans includes some who have not yet spoken out on the issue and others who are changing their stance on the gay marriage.

From The New York Times:

“Among them are Meg Whitman, who supported Proposition 8 when she ran for California governor; Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida and Richard Hanna of New York; Stephen J. Hadley, a Bush national security adviser; Carlos Gutierrez, a commerce secretary to Mr. Bush; James B. Comey, a top Bush Justice Department official; David A. Stockman, President Ronald Reagan’s first budget director; and Deborah Pryce, a former member of the House Republican leadership from Ohio who is retired from Congress.”

The Republicans’ gay marriage stance remains in opposition to House Speaker John Boehner, who is prepared to spend up to $3 million in defense of DOMA. The Huffington Post noted. DOMA prohibits same-sex married couples from getting federal benefits and allows states not to recognize same-sex unions from other states.