Out of the handful of Republicans who decided to be on the right side of history by voting in favor of marriage equality in the Washington House on Wednesday, it's Rep. Maureen Walsh's emotional testimony that has us reaching for a tissue. Why? For starters, as she relayed the story of her daughter who recently came out of the closet, Rep. Walsh held back tears and said, "Someday I want to throw a wedding for that kid."
Follow the jump for the rest. We dare you not to well-up.
Said Rep. Walsh:
I don’t wax as eloquently as most of the people on the floor here, but I have allowed my heart and mind to guide me on a lot of different decisions I’ve made in the legislature. I think sometimes that’s what we have to do.
I too don’t want to wag my finger at anybody about which way to vote on this. It’s certainly an issue of conscience to me that I’ve been weighing very heavily for the past few weeks.
You know, I was married for 23 years to the love of my life and he died 6 years ago. I think of all the wonderful years we had and the wonderful fringe benefits of having 3 beautiful children. I don’t miss the sex, and to me that’s kind of what this boils down to. I don’t miss that… I mean I certainly miss it, but it’s certainly not the aspect of that relationship, that incredible bond I had with that human being, that I really really genuinely wish I still had. And so I just think to myself: how could I deny anyone the right to have that incredible bond with another individual in life. To me it seems almost cruel.
Years ago my daughter went to elementary school. Many of you have met my daughter she’s a fabulous girl, she’s wonderful, my boys are great too, but she’s really something special. She was the light of her father’s eye.
So she went to school and there were a whole group of kids picking on another kid, and you know, my daughter stuck up for that kid. Even though it wasn’t the popular thing to do it was the right thing to do. I was never more proud of my kid than knowing she was speaking against the vocal majority on behalf of the rights of the minority. And to me, it is incumbent upon us as legislators in this state to do that. That is why we are here.
And I shudder to think that if folks who had preceded us in history did not do that, frankly I’m not sure I would be here as a woman. I’m not sure other people would be here due to their race or creed. And to me that is what’s disconcerting.
And someone made the comment that this is not about equality. Well yes it is about equality. And why in the world would be not allow those equal rights for individuals who are truly committed to one another in life to be able to show that in the way of a marriage.
My daughter came out of the closet a couple of years ago and you know what I thought I was going to agonize about that. Nothing’s different. She’s still a fabulous human being and she met someone she loves very much. And some day, by God, I want to throw a wedding for that kid. And someday I hope that’s what I can do. I hope she will not feel like a second-class citizen involved in something called a “domestic partnership” which frankly sounds like a Mary Maids franchise to me.
If she's a representative of what a Republic is, I'm going to register as a Republican!
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... written by Greg Erikson,
February 11, 2012
Quite simply this woman is in the wrong party! It amazes me when a Republican comes out in favor of gay rights. Generally it turns out that they have a family member who is gay. Case in point Dick Chaney. Do you really think he would support gay rights if his daughter were not gay? The party of hatred knows no bounds.
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... written by SusanWAState,
February 12, 2012
Larry4Equlity - I can assure you Rep. Marsh's position on this issue is not that of a typical Republican, which is that marriage should be constitutionally defined as being between one man and one woman. If you like Rep. Marsh's message, you'll probably feel more comfortable with the Democratic party's more progressive and tolerant stance.
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... written by Bruce Kershaw,
October 20, 2012
I hope you run for President. I watch your speech about once a month and as a gay man you are my idol. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your daughter is lucky to have a mom like you!
