January 9, 2015
As Gay Couples in Florida Wed, Rubio Remains Opposed
EDGE READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Oh, now he decides to speak up.
After remaining relatively silent during the protracted stay and appeals process that ultimately made Florida the 36th state to legal same-sex marriage, presumptive 2016 GOP presidential hopeful Senator Marco Rubio is speaking up about the ongoing legal battle for marriage equality across the country.
"If they [advocates] wanted to change that law, they should have gone to the legislature or back to the Constitution and try to change it" Rubio told Politco during a brief interview Wednesday. "I don't agree we should be trying to make those changes through the courts."
Rubio went on to suggest that Florida state Attorney General Pam Bondi, who had vigorously fought to keep the voter approved ban on same-sex marriage in place, should move forward with an appeal of the court decision that overturned the ban. Bondi has been vague about her next steps on the issue.
"I do not believe that there is a U.S. Constitutional right to same-sex marriage. Now as I've said before, states have a right to change their laws." Rubio said. "I don't believe it's unconstitutional. I just don't believe there's a constitutional right to it."
Tampa Bay Times notes that in Rubio's new book "American Dreams: Restoring Economic Opportunity for Everyone," he takes a somewhat gentler tone. In it, he writes:
"Thousands of years of human history have taught us that the ideal setting for children to grow up in is with a mother and a father committed to each other, living together and sharing responsibility of raising their children. It is for this reason and this reason alone that I continue to believe marriage should be defined as one man and one woman. It is neither my place nor my intention to dictate to anyone who they are allowed to love or live with."
According to Associated Press, as of Wednesday, almost 1,400 gay and lesbian couples were issued marriage licenses in 28 of Florida's most-populous counties in the two days since a ban on same-sex marriage was lifted, according to a survey of clerks of court.
