Apr 16, 2004  |  By: LOU CHIBBARO JR.  | COMMENTS     

Congressman James Moran (D-Va.) supports legal recognition of same-sex marriage and would leave it up to the states, rather than the federal government, to decide whether gay couples should have the right to marry, according to a spokesperson.

“He supports loving, monogamous couples getting married,” said Dan Drummond, Moran’s press secretary. “He believes that if two men or two women are in a loving relationship, who is to say they shouldn’t?”

Moran’s district includes parts of Arlington and Fairfax Counties and the City of Alexandria.

Moran’s office was one of only a few congressional offices to respond to a Washington Blade survey on where D.C.-area members of Congress stand on the issue of same-sex marriage. Although most of the D.C. area congressional representatives have taken a position on whether Congress and the states should approve a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, most have yet to say how they feel about same-sex marriage itself.

Del. Eleanor Homes Norton (D-D.C.), who has no voting privileges on the House floor, was the first among D.C.-area members of Congress to say she supports same-sex marriage. Norton is one of the leading opponents of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

Many stake no position
Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) opposes same-sex marriage but has yet to join his GOP colleagues who have come out in support of the Federal Marriage Amendment, the proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage that is pending before the House and Senate.

“He supports the idea that marriage is between a man and a woman only,” said John Reid, Allen’s press secretary.

Reid said Allen believes the Defense of Marriage Act, which Congress passed in 1996, is sufficient to protect the institution of marriage in the United States. The act, known as DOMA, defines marriage under federal law as a union between a man and a woman and declares that no state can be forced to recognize same-sex marriages performed in another state.

“He would only support a constitutional amendment if it becomes absolutely necessary,” said Reid. Right now, Allen believes DOMA “has already resolved this issue,” Reid said.

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the House Minority Whip, released a statement saying he supports civil unions but opposes gay marriage. His press secretary, Stacey Farnen, said Hoyer also strongly opposes the Federal Marriage Amendment.

“While I am opposed to same-sex marriages, I support civil unions and ensuring that every American has the right to form a recognized committed relationship with all of the rights, protections and responsibilities that entails,” Hoyer said in a one-sentence statement.
Hoyer’s district includes sections of Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties.

The offices of Senators John Warner (R-Va.), Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.) and Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) did not respond by press time to inquiries about their position on same-sex marriage. Also not responding were the offices of Reps. Tom Davis (R-Va.), Frank Wolf (R-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Albert Wynn (D-Md.).

Sarbanes, Mikulski, Van Hollen and Wynn have been strong supporters on gay rights issues. The four are co-sponsors of legislation to ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and to authorize the federal government to prosecute anti-gay hate crimes.
Warner, Allen, Wolf, and Davis have declined to support gay civil rights and hate crimes bills.

Reid said Allen has also stated that, while he opposes same-sex marriage, “he feels people should be treated with respect and dignity” in the debate over the issue.

“The phone calls his office has been receiving have been in favor of the constitutional amendment,” Reid said. “But the senator is slow to tamper with the Constitution. He doesn’t see that as the ideal way to deal with this issue.”

Drummond said Moran, who has a strong record of support on gay civil rights issues, considers his position in favor of same-sex marriage as being consistent with Moran’s longstanding support for equality for all Americans.

“He wants gays and lesbians to be able to do what they want as long as they are not hurting anybody,” Drummond said. “He doesn’t think the government should be telling two people what to do on marriage.”

Although Norton supports same-sex marriage, she has advised D.C.-area gay organizations not to lobby D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams (D) or the D.C. Council to introduce a same-sex marriage or a civil unions bill at the present time. Norton said she fears that hostile members of Congress would quickly overturn such a bill and might pass a separate bill banning the city from advancing gay marriage legislation in the future.

Williams and most members of the Council have said they support same-sex marriage but have deferred to requests by some local gay activist groups to hold off on introducing a same-sex marriage bill.