In a Sunday op-ed written for the The Meriden Record-Journal and posted to his official Senate website, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) explains why he has reversed his longstanding position and now supports full marriage equality for LGBT Americans. Dodd says "the fact that I was raised a certain way just isn’t a good enough reason to stand in the way of fairness anymore."
I believe that effective leaders must be able and willing to grow and change over their service. I certainly have during mine—and so has the world. Thirty-five years ago, who could have imagined that we'd have an African-American President of the United States?
My young daughters are growing up in a different reality than I did. Our family knows many same-sex couples—our neighbors in Connecticut, members of my staff, parents of their schoolmates. Some are now married because the Connecticut Supreme Court and our state legislature have made same-sex marriage legal in our state. But to my daughters, these couples are married simply because they love each other and want to build a life together. That's what we've taught them. The things that make those families different from their own pale in comparison to the commitments that bind those couples together.
In the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, Dodd did not support full marriage equality but very eloquently spoke out for gay rights, civil unions and tolerance.
Democratic Senators Charles Schumer (NY) and Tom Harkin (IA)—the latter voted for the odious Defense of Marriage Act—are also recent converts to full marriage equality.
(via joe.my.god and pam's house blend)
WOw just reading his comments brought tears to my eyes.
Posted by: Cedric | 22 June 2009 at 12:44
BRAVO SENATOR DODD.....BRAVO!!!!!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 22 June 2009 at 13:43
THANK YOU SENATOR!
Posted by: Ras | 22 June 2009 at 13:52
Please!! Stop the congratulations train! How courageous of Senator Dodd to come out for Same-sex marraige in CT when it's already been ordered by the court codified by the legislature. It's not exactly like Connecticut is Mississippi. This is my former Senator and Dodd is trying to solidify his base with an issue that is relatively uncontroversial in liberal CT.
After the news broke of his fingerprints being all over much of mortgage meltdown mess, especially Countrywide, Dodd is facing a terrible uphill battle for his next Senate bid. There's a very good chance he will lose, an almost unthinkable idea even a year ago. That Senate seat is almost Dodd family property, like ancestral land. I'm suprised that it's not in his will. I welcome any gay positive news, but I can't be that excited by this opportunist. Still, he's better than Joe Leiberman. I'd glady have Chris Dodd re-elected ad infinitum to get rid of Droopy Dog Leiberman. Ugh!!!
Posted by: mjolnir202 | 22 June 2009 at 16:02
"How courageous of Senator Dodd to come out for Same-sex marraige in CT when it's already been ordered by the court codified by the legislature. It's not exactly like Connecticut is Mississippi"
You ain't never lied about that one. I applaud the senator for taking the stand, but he loses nothing in Connecticut. The irony is that he is embracing marriage equality in a tough re-election bid. -RM
Posted by: Rod Mc | 22 June 2009 at 16:07
The irony is that he is embracing marriage equality in a tough re-election bid. -RM
Guess he's worried about how the withholding of Gay Money will impact that tough race! Make a note people -- Money Does Indeed Talk - REAL LOUD!
Posted by: ReggieH | 22 June 2009 at 16:44