Conservatives Lining up to Support Gay Marriage

One of the most conservative newspapers in the country recently posted an op-ed endorsing marriage equality and encouraging Republicans to support the issue as well, saying, "gay marriage is actually a very conservative value."

The Washington Times guest editorial column, written by Catherine Poe, includes a memo by Jan R. van Lohuizen - President George W. Bush's pollster. The letter is intended for Republican leaders and candidates and says, "As people [Republicans] who promote personal responsibility, family values, commitment and stability, and emphasize freedom and limited government we have to recognize that freedom means freedom for everyone. This includes the freedom to decide how you live and to enter into relationships of your choosing, the freedom to live without excessive interference of the regulatory force of government."

Poe then breaks down the controversial social issue into five reasons why conservatives should support same-sex marriage.

She says "gay marriage promotes personal responsibility," and says that adults pledge a personal responsibility to one another. Poe adds that, "a lesbian could inherit her partner's assets at her death, even without a will. And gays would be entitled to all the financial benefits that straight couples receive, even being able to file joint federal returns and getting Social Security spousal or survivor benefits."

Poe says that same-sex marriage would promote family values, commitment and stability as well. Marriage "encourages the raising of children within that family. Two parents. Isn't that what conservatives claim to support?" she asks. "Since the legalization of gay marriage is comparatively recent, it's hard to say, though some demographic data does show a lower than average divorce rate among gay couples," Poe adds.

The writer also claims that marriage equality will promote freedom and is an example of "limited governmental powers."

"Gay marriage would take the stigma out of being a gay couple. It recognizes the oneness of us all, our common humanity," she says. But mentions that the limited government is "at the heart of the conservative movement."

"With 30 states instituting laws to deny its citizens equal protection under the law, it looks like it will fall to the Supreme Court to step in and establish that gay marriage is not only a right, but one that upholds conservative core values," Poe writes.

The Washington Times was founded in 1982 by Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon and has been cited for having a conservative political view. The Washington Post said that the newspaper was created by Moon "to combat communism and be a conservative alternative to what he perceived as the liberal bias of the Washington Post."

But some conservatives aren't buying Poe's point of view. When the ultra-conservative website Free Republic posted the story on its website, a number of readers left comments slamming the article.

"Counterfeit marriage is the antithesis of conservatism. More jamming from the homo-left," one reader wrote. "I love it when Lefties tell conservatives what conservative values are," another said.

The publication's new stance on marriage equality may have been more shocking if the article was published a few years ago but within recent months it seems as though more conservatives in the GOP are supporting gay marriage.

Richard Grenell recently wrote in an op-ed piece for the Wall Street Journal that Americans shouldn't vote against President Obama because of his endorsement of gay marriage. Grenell, an out-gay man who served under George W. Bush's United Nations Mission, had served briefly as Romney's national security advisor until pressure from right-wing groups impelled Grenell to step down.

"Like many voters, I rarely agree with a candidate's every position. I can support Mr. Romney for president but not agree with all of his stated policies. I can be proud of President Obama's personal support for gay marriage and still take exception to his dismal national-security and economic records," Grenell writes. "Millions of American voters will also evaluate both candidates' policies in total and come to the same conclusion: Mr. Obama doesn't deserve to be re-elected and Mr. Romney does."

According to CNN, support for marriage equality by Republicans has been on the rise as GOP leaders have played a vital role in legalizing same-sex marriage in New York and New Hampshire. The news network points out that there have been 197 Republican state legislators that have supported gay marriage and some lawmakers have even risked their careers by backing the issue.

CNN also says that more people across the country are more accepting of gay rights, especially young Americans and according to a Gallup poll 70 percent of the people between the ages of 18 and 34 support same-sex marriage.

But 16-year-old Madeline McAulay isn't like most American teenagers as the conservative teen does not support marriage equality. McAulay's YouTube video criticizing gay marriage received a significant amount of backlash. She has received several comments and even death threats.