Amid Supreme Court arguments this week on Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act, political leaders exhibiting varying degrees of courage have lined up to announce their support of marriage equality. Some just came off of reelection, meaning they won't face voters for six years. One was a Republican prompted to change his position by his gay son. And still another was a former secretary of state abstaining from the political fray until recently, and suddenly finding herself following the party she once sought to lead.
Here, then -- with a tip of the hat to New York magazine's "approval matrix" -- is our gay marriage courage-meter. On the x-axis is timing -- who was ahead of the curve, and who just came to the party this week. The y-axis represents who showed guts and risked political capital for their support. Below the courage-meter is a short legend with background on the selections. Suggestions? Disagreements? Take to the comments section (and click on the courage-meter to enlarge it)!
Download the full-size image here.
Former Rep. Steve Gunderson (R-Wis.) - Outed as gay on the House floor two years earlier, the lone Republican to vote against Defense of Marriage Act (1996)
Former Sen. Chuck Robb (D-Va.) - The lone Southern senator to vote against DOMA (1996)
Former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) - A red-state senator to vote against DOMA, he also supported gay marriage in his losing 2012 race for Senate (1996)
Former Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun (D-Ill.) - An early African-American LGBT supporter, she voted against DOMA (1996)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) - Voted against DOMA, from a blue state but one that would later support Proposition 8 (1996); Boxer was closer to facing reelection.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) - The socialist then-congressman was fairly entrenched in his at-large House seat when he voted against DOMA (1996)
Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D-N.Y.) - Running for attorney general in 1998, announced his support for marriage equality before other statewide officials in his state (1998)
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) - Issued marriage licenses as mayor of San Francisco, while harboring statewide ambitions (2004)
Former Mayor Jason West (New Paltz) - The then 26-year-old Green Party mayor issued marriage licenses despite warnings he was breaking state law and could face penalties (2004)
Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I-R.I.) - Then a Republican senator in a liberal state, publicly opposed President Bush's proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage
Vice President Dick Cheney - Expressed support for his gay daughter's right to marry before many others; did not publicly push ticket or party to endorse position (2004)
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) - Supported marriage equality before some in New York, and after others; shepherded marriage equality law to passage in 2011 (2006)
Gov. Jerry Brown (D-Calif.) - As attorney general, asked court to invalidate Proposition 8 after it was voted through by his state, said he wouldn't defend it in court (2008)
Steve Schmidt (GOP political strategist) - Expressed support for marriage shortly after running his party's presidential race; has not sought public office (2009)
Former President Bill Clinton – Endorsement of marriage law in New York came before other national figures evolved, but well after he served in office (and signed DOMA) (2011)
State Sen. Roy McDonald (R-N.Y.) and state Sen. Steve Saland (R-N.Y.) - After voting for marriage equality, these unsung heroes – both longtime Republican legislators – would lose their next elections (2011)
Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Md.) – Endorsed before Obama, but shortly after potential 2016 rival Cuomo helped passed law in New York (2011)
Vice President Joe Biden – Spoke his mind on "Meet the Press," expediting his boss’s announcement (2011)
President Barack Obama – The first president to endorse marriage equality, and did so during election year; however, followed his vice president, and an early-career reversal on the issue (2012)
Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada) – After Obama’s announcement, a raft of Democrats followed, including the Senate majority leader (2012)
Rep. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) - Only two House Republicans to sign Supreme Court brief calling same-sex marriage a constitutional right (2013)
Hillary Clinton (former secretary of state) - An open question as to when she might have supported it had she not been secretary of state (and abstained from certain political discussions); announcement in 2013 bore no risk (2013)
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) – Was first GOP senator to come out for gay marriage, after his son Will came out to him (2013)
Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) – Expressed support for gay marriage this week; represents state won by Mitt Romney and faces reelection next year (2013)
Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) – Expressed support this week; represents red state and faces reelection next year (2013)
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) – A few months after winning reelection, expressed his support for gay marriage; represents state won by Romney (2013)
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