Jeb Bush: Republicans should ‘show respect’ for same-sex marriage
Former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush has called for “respect” to people “on all sides” of the marriage debate.
The Republican – who is the son of former President George Bush, and the younger brother of former President George W Bush – is seen by many as the next potential Republican Presidential candidate.
Mr Bush was speaking as the first same-sex weddings took place in Florida last week – after a court struck down the marriage ban that his party introduced.
He said in a statement: “We live in a democracy, and regardless of our disagreements, we have to respect the rule of law.
“I hope that we can also show respect for the good people on all sides of the gay and lesbian marriage issue — including couples making lifetime commitments to each other who are seeking greater legal protections and those of us who believe marriage is a sacrament and want to safeguard religious liberty.”
His comments are an about-face from those he made earlier this month, when he claimed the issue should be “up to the states”.
He said: “It ought be a local decision. I mean, a state decision. The state decided.
“The people of the state decided. But it’s been overturned by the courts, I guess.”
Jeb Bush branded same-sex marriage “a distraction” during the 2012 presidential campaign.
He said at the time: “I don’t think people need to be discriminated against because they don’t share my belief on this, and if people love their children with all their heart and soul and that’s what they do and that’s how they organise their life that should be held up as examples for others to follow because we need it.
“We desperately need it and that can take all sorts of forms. It doesn’t have to take the one that I think should be sanctioned under the law.”
