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Anti-Gay Rep. Mark Souder Resigns After Affair with Staffer

An eight-term, anti-gay "family values" Republican congressman—who once compared gays to alcoholics—has been forced to resign after his affair with a female staffer. Indiana's Rep. Mark Souder even recorded a video promoting ABSTINENCE with the aide.

The married father of three admits to "sinning" with the married female staffer, reports The Hill.

"'It is with great regret I announce that I am resigning from the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as resigning as the Republican nominee for Congress in this fall's election,' Souder said in a statement. The resignation will be effective Friday. 'I sinned against God, my wife and family by having a mutual relationship with a part-time member of my staff,' he added. The staffer with whom Souder had the affair, Fox News reported, was Tracy Jackson, a part-time communications aide in his district office. Jackson, according to Fox, is in her mid-40s and is married, and reportedly earner $12,541 last year for her work for Souder."

Souder's record serves up a gourmet meal of schadenfreude... 

In January: The anti-gay lawmaker was one of 39 Republican congressmen and senators that filed amicus briefs seeking a ballot initiative in Washington D.C. to "protect traditional marriage." In 2007: Souder suggested former Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), who was embroiled in a sex scandal, should resign from the Senate.

Souder's website: "I believe that Congress must fight to uphold the traditional values that undergird the strength of our nation. The family plays a fundamental role in our society. Studies consistently demonstrate that it is best for a child to have a mother and father, and I am committed to preserving traditional marriage, the union of one man and one woman."

Souder's anti-gay voting record: NO on hate crimes (2009), NO on ENDA (2007), YES on constitutional ban on gay marriage (2006), YES on gay adoption ban (1999).

Souder and his office mistress Trachy Jackson recorded a video praising ABSTINENCE. Watch the video and read Souder's resignation statement WHEN YOU JUMP...

UPDATE: The video has been removed from YouTube.

DC Marriage Equality Opponents Want Voter Referendum, 39 Anti-Gay GOP Congressman Support

There is a disturbing update to Washington DC's new marriage equality legislation. Stand 4 Marriage DC Coalition, led by anti-gay crusader Bishop Harry Jackson, has asked the D.C. Superior Court to order the Board of Elections and Ethics to place a marriage initiative on the ballot for a voter referendum. (The Board has denied several requests.) Thirty-nine conservative anti-gay congressional Republicans, including two senators, have filed an amicus brief to co-sign Jackson's gay-bashing.

The Washington Post:

In the filing, U.S. senators James Inhofe (OK) and Roger Wicker (MS) and 37 House Republicans align with Bishop Harry Jackson, pastor of Hope Christian Church, in asking the court to reverse a D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics decision prohibiting the same-sex marriage question to be put before voters. "Under the United States Constitution, they serve as members of the ultimate legislative authority for the District of Columbia and the very body which delegated to the District its limited legislative power under home rule," the filing states. "As members of the District's ultimate legislative body, amici are concerned about the extent of the District's delegated legislative authority, the preservation of Congress's constitutional authority, and the interpretation of home rule." The filing comes as Jackson and his attorneys appeared in Superior Court today for a hearing on whether a referendum should be held. In two separate rulings since June, the elections board has stated that a public vote on same-sex marriage would be discriminatory against gay men and lesbians. Jackson is vowing an exhaustive court fight to challenge those decisions.

In addition to Inhofe, Wicker, House Minority Leader John Boehner (OH) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (VA), via AMERICAblog, the brief was signed by the following:

Aderholt (AL), Akin (MO), Bachmann (MN), Barrett (SC), Bartlett (MD), Blackburn (TN), Boozman (AR), Chaffetz (UT), Fleming (LA), Forbes (VA), Foxx (NC), Garrett (NJ), Gingrey (GA), Gohmert (TX), Hensarling (TX), Herger (CA), Jones (NC), Jordan (OH), King (IA), Kingston (GA), Kline (MN) Lamborn (CO), Latta (OH), Manzullo (IL), McCaul (TX), McCotter (MI), McHenry (NC), McMorris Rodgers (WA), Miller (FL), Moran (KS), Neugebauer (TX), Pence (IN), Pitts (PA), Souder (IN) and Tiahrt (KS).