Republican lawmaker voted against gay marriage then attended his gay son’s wedding

Words: Emily Maskell; pictures: Twitter/@CongressmanGT

Hypocrisy thy name is you. Believably though, Republican Glenn Thompson attended his gay son’s wedding a mere three days after voting against protections for same-sex marriage.

The Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would codify federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages nationwide, passed the US House of Representatives last week after 47 Republicans sided with Democrats after they were told to vote with their conscience.

However, Thompson, a Pennsylvania representative, was one of 157 Republicans to vote against bill, and a couple of days later attended his son’s wedding to another man.

Thompson’s son, told NBC News that he “married the love of [his] life” on Friday (22 July) and confirmed that his father was present for the wedding ceremony.

Thompson’s press secretary, Maddison Stone, also confirmed the congressman was in attendance and said the Thompsons were “very happy” to welcome their new son-in-law into the family.

“Congressman and Mrs Thompson were thrilled to attend and celebrate their son’s marriage on Friday night as he began this new chapter in his life,” Stone continued in a statement.

A wedding attendee anonymously shared Thompson’s wedding speech with Buzzfeed, saying politicians should be “exposed for who they really are.”

“As they grow and as they get a little older, we also hope and pray they’re going to find that one true love so that they have the opportunity to experience that: Someone to grow old with,” Thompson said in the speech.

“We love it when they find their one true love, especially when they become a part of our families then,” he added.

Previously, Thompson had called the Respect for Marriage Act bill an “election-year messaging stunt” for Democrats.

Thompson told Centre Daily that the bill was a political stunt in for the Democrats in Congress “who have failed to address historic inflation and out of control prices at gas pumps and grocery stores.”

“This bill makes crystal clear that every couple and their children has the fundamental freedom to take pride in their marriage and have their marriage respected under the law,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in floor remarks, Politico reported.

Same-sex marriage became recognised across America in 2015 after the Supreme Court case Obergefell vs Hodges.

But Democrats were urging for The Respect for Marriage Act to protect marriage equality after the recent overturning of abortion rights led to fear that a new precedent was being set. 

In a concurring decision to overturn the 1973 Roe vs Wade ruling in June, Justice Clarence Thomas voiced support for reconsidering the court’s earlier nationwide legalisation of same-sex marriage.

According to a Gallup poll from June, a record 71 percent of people in the U.S. support gay marriage.

The Respect for Marriage Act will now go to a vote in the Senate.

The Attitude July/August issue is out now.