Republicans and the Freedom to Marry
The freedom to marry is consistent with conservative values of limited government and individual freedom. » A majority of Republicans and Republican-­‐leaning Independents affirm these beliefs: We should all follow the Golden Rule and treat others as we’d like to be treated, including gays and lesbians. The government should stay out of the private lives of adults, including gays and lesbians. » And, as Dick Cheney said, “Freedom means freedom for everybody” – including gays and lesbians, who should have the freedom to enter into relationships with each other. Polls show a significant increase in support among Republicans. » Republican pollster Whit Ayres says, “On no issue in American life have opinions changed as fast as they have on gay rights. It is truly a stunning development.” » Washington Post/ABC News (March 2014) and the New York Times (February 2014) show 40% of Republicans supporting marriage for same-­‐sex couples. » 61% of Republicans and Republican leaners under 30 favor same-­‐sex marriage while just 35% oppose it, according to Pew Research (March 2014). » Between 2006 and 2011, GOP support grew a total of 8 percentage points. Now, support is growing even faster: one poll shows a 15% increase in support among Republicans in less than two years. (New York Times, February 2014) » Pollster and Former Romney Director of Data Science Alex Lundry noted that 64% of self-­‐
identifying Evangelical millenials support same-­‐sex marriage. (March 2013) Where leading GOP policymakers stand » According to the American Unity Fund, there are more than 230 Republican state legislators have spoken out in favor of the freedom to marry, voted for it, or voted against efforts to repeal it. All 2013 bills passed with bipartisan support. » Despite aggressive anti-­‐gay attacks by opponents, the three Republican members of the state House of Representatives who voted for marriage in 2013 won their primary races. In 2012, a majority of New Hampshire GOP lawmakers voted down a repeal of the freedom to marry law by a 211-­‐116 margin. » In Nevada, Governor Brian Sandoval sided with his attorney general in not defending marriage discrimination in his state. In New Mexico, Governor Susana Martinez called the freedom to marry in her state “the law of the land.” Freedom to Marry | 155 West 19th St, 2nd Floor | New York, NY 10011 | freedomtomarry.org In the Courts » Federal judges – including those appointed by Republican Presidents – are now consistently ruling in favor of the freedom to marry, including a Michigan judge appointed by Ronald Reagan and a judge appointed by George H.W. Bush and recommended by Senator Mitch McConnell. » A group of Republicans from the West, invoking Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater, signed a historic friend-­‐of-­‐the-­‐court brief in favor of the freedom to marry in March, 2014. Signers included former Senators Alan Simpson (WY) and Nancy Kassebaum (KS) and Sean Sullivan, counsel for Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign in Colorado – all of whom “embrace Ronald Reagan’s belief that the Republican Party must be a ‘big tent.’” Seven Republican lawmakers from Wyoming also backed the freedom to marry the same week the brief was filed. » Over 130 prominent Republicans signed an amicus brief to the US Supreme Court arguing that gay people have a constitutional right to marry based on conservative values of limited government and individual freedom. Signers included top advisers to former President George W. Bush, former governors and members of Congress. Corporate America is on Board » An increasing number of Fortune 500 companies support the freedom to marry because they know that strong and stable families increase productivity and support a strong economy. Nearly 300 companies submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, among them: Alcoa, Apple, Cisco Systems, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Google, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Starbucks, Pfizer, Walt Disney Company, and Xerox – many ranked in the top 100 of Fortune 500 companies. Good Economics » Marriage for gay couples reduces the size of government by, among other things, creating stability in the lives of same-­‐sex couples, reducing their tax burden and cutting their need for government-­‐run social services. » Marriage for same-­‐sex couples creates jobs and has proven to be a vital economic engine in states where it’s legal, pumping millions into the local economy. The freedom to marry increases tax revenue and helps the small businesses that need it most. Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry » Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry was launched in July 2012 in recognition of the widening gulf between older and younger conservatives on the issue. Young conservatives rightfully fear that the Republican Party will risk losing ground if they continue to oppose the freedom to marry as new voters enter the voting ranks. Freedom to Marry | 155 West 19th St, 2nd Floor | New York, NY 10011 | freedomtomarry.org