Senator Bill Nelson’s office says he no longer opposes same sex marriage.
In a statement Thursday he wrote, "The civil rights and responsibilities for one must pertain to all. Thus, to discriminate against one class and not another is wrong for me. Simply put, if The Lord made homosexuals as well as heterosexuals, why should I discriminate against their civil marriage? I shouldn't, and I won't."
The Democratic Florida senator went on to tell the editorial board of the Tampa Bay Times he will sign a petition asking the Supreme Court to declare the law that prohibits same sex marriage unconstitutional.
Below is the full statement Nelson gave the newspaper:
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.
Thus, to discriminate against one class and not another is wrong for me.
If we are endowed by our Creator with rights, then why shouldn't those be attainable by gays and lesbians?
Simply put, if the Lord made homosexuals as well as heterosexuals, why should I discriminate against their civil marriage? I shouldn't, and I won't.
So I will add my name to the petition of senators asking the Supreme Court to declare the law that prohibits gay marriage unconstitutional.