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| Two more 'red-state' Senate Democrats back same-sex marriage | Two more 'red-state' Senate Democrats back same-sex marriage |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Two more Democrats senators, Heidi Heitkamp and Joe Donnelly, joined the swelling ranks of party members to declare their support of same-sex marriage. | Two more Democrats senators, Heidi Heitkamp and Joe Donnelly, joined the swelling ranks of party members to declare their support of same-sex marriage. |
| Heitkamp, from North Dakota, and Donnelly, from Indiana, bring to 49 the number of Democratic senators backing same-sex marriage, with only four remaining in opposition. | Heitkamp, from North Dakota, and Donnelly, from Indiana, bring to 49 the number of Democratic senators backing same-sex marriage, with only four remaining in opposition. |
| The announcements are significant as Heitkamp and Donnelly come from traditionally red states. | The announcements are significant as Heitkamp and Donnelly come from traditionally red states. |
| There is now a clear majority in the Senate, with the two independents, Bernie Sanders and Angus King, supporting same-sex marriage, and two Republicans, Rob Portman and Mark Kirk. | There is now a clear majority in the Senate, with the two independents, Bernie Sanders and Angus King, supporting same-sex marriage, and two Republicans, Rob Portman and Mark Kirk. |
| The pace of change is unusual in the Senate. In a sign of how fast the change in attitudes has taken place, in 2010, only 16 members of the Senate backed same-sex marriages. | The pace of change is unusual in the Senate. In a sign of how fast the change in attitudes has taken place, in 2010, only 16 members of the Senate backed same-sex marriages. |
| Heitkamp, who was elected in November, said during the 2012 campaign that decisions about marriage should be left to the states. But in a statement on Friday, she said: "In speaking with North Dakotans from every corner of our great state, and much personal reflection, I have concluded the federal government should no longer discriminate against people who want to make lifelong, loving commitments to each other or interfere in personal, private, and intimate relationships. | Heitkamp, who was elected in November, said during the 2012 campaign that decisions about marriage should be left to the states. But in a statement on Friday, she said: "In speaking with North Dakotans from every corner of our great state, and much personal reflection, I have concluded the federal government should no longer discriminate against people who want to make lifelong, loving commitments to each other or interfere in personal, private, and intimate relationships. |
| "I view the ability of anyone to marry as a logical extension of this belief. The make-up of families is changing, but the importance of family is enduring." | "I view the ability of anyone to marry as a logical extension of this belief. The make-up of families is changing, but the importance of family is enduring." |
| Donnelly, also elected in November, opposed same-sex marriage during his campaign, saying marriage should be between a man and a woman. In a posting on Facebook on Friday, he wrote that his position had evolved. | Donnelly, also elected in November, opposed same-sex marriage during his campaign, saying marriage should be between a man and a woman. In a posting on Facebook on Friday, he wrote that his position had evolved. |
| "I voted to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell' and was an original supporter of the bill that would make it illegal to discriminate against someone in the workplace because of their sexual orientation," he wrote. | "I voted to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell' and was an original supporter of the bill that would make it illegal to discriminate against someone in the workplace because of their sexual orientation," he wrote. |
| "It is also for that reason that I oppose amending either Indiana's or our nation's constitution to enshrine in those documents an 'us' and a 'them,' instead of a 'we.' | "It is also for that reason that I oppose amending either Indiana's or our nation's constitution to enshrine in those documents an 'us' and a 'them,' instead of a 'we.' |
| He added: "With the recent supreme court arguments and accompanying public discussion of same-sex marriage, I have been thinking about my past positions and votes. In doing so, I have concluded that the right thing to do is to support marriage equality for all." | He added: "With the recent supreme court arguments and accompanying public discussion of same-sex marriage, I have been thinking about my past positions and votes. In doing so, I have concluded that the right thing to do is to support marriage equality for all." |
| The four Democrats who remain opposed to marriage equality are Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Mark Pryor of Arkansas. | The four Democrats who remain opposed to marriage equality are Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Mark Pryor of Arkansas. |
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