Marriage momentum: Majority of U.S. Senate supports marriage equality

When it rains, it pours…

At least that’s what it feels like these days when it comes to politicians voicing their support for the freedom to marry.

Last week marked a major milestone in the LGBT rights movement as challenges were heard at the U.S. Supreme Court to California’s Proposition 8 marriage ban and the discriminatory, so-called federal “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA). Across the country, as millions of people rallied in support of marriage equality, more and more members of the U.S. Senate voiced their support. And now, for the first time in history, a majority of the U.S. Senate supports marriage equality!

Today we mark the support of 53 U.S. senators for the freedom to marry. On Monday, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) said yes. He was followed by Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) on Tuesday. Thursday brought the voice of Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and today Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) endorsed marriage equality.

The 53 Senate voices of support are representative of both blue and red states, as now two Republicans, Mark Kirk and Rob Portman of Ohio are on-board with marriage equality. Two independent senators have publicly supported the right of same-sex couples to marry: Angus King (I-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Forty-nine Democrats have also endorsed, leaving just four who haven’t: Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.).

This flood of endorsements not only instills momentum for marriage equality, but for the entire LGBT movement. No matter what the Supreme Court decides, Congress has the power to repeal DOMA by passing the Respect for Marriage Act — and you can urge your senator to support the Respect for Marriage Act here.