Another Democratic Senator Flips on Gay Marriage
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billnelson.senate.gov(WASHINGTON) — Another Senate Democrat has come out in support of same-sex marriage, which leaves six Senate Democratic holdouts who have yet to embrace marriage equality.
On Thursday, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., flipped and announced that he now supports same-sex marriage.
The senator made the announcement during an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, saying, “It is generally accepted in American law and U.S. society today … that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I believe that. The civil rights and responsibilities for one must pertain to all.”
Nelson later confirmed his switch to ABC News.
This marks the ninth Senate Democrat since last week to reverse course and now embrace same-sex marriage. The six Senate Democrats who continue to oppose marriage equality in some way are Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Tim Johnson of South Dakota.
Two Republican senators have endorsed same-sex marriage: Rob Portman of Ohio and Mark Kirk of Illinois.
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