U.S. Congressman Attended His Gay Son’s Wedding Just 3 Days After Voting Against Same-Sex Marriage

A U.S. lawmaker went to his gay son’s wedding on Friday, just three days after voting against a House bill that would codify federal protections for same-sex marriage and declare that marriages performed in one state must be recognized in all states, without respect to “sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.”

The gay son of Congressman Glenn Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican, revealed on Monday that he “married the love of [his] life” on Friday and that his “father was there.”

“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,” Thompson’s press secretary said in a statement Monday. “The Thompsons are very happy to welcome their new son-in-law into their family.”

On Tuesday, Rep. Thompson voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which passed 267 to 157 and even garnered the votes of 47 Republicans.

The Respect for Marriage Act is now being considered by the Senate, where it needs at least 10 Republican votes and all Democrats on board to overcome a filibuster. So far, at least five Republican senators have indicated they will support the bill. If it passes, the legislation will be sent to the desk of President Joe Biden to sign into law.

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling last month that overturned the constitutional right to an abortion established by Roe v. Wade, House Democrats moved to enshrine marriage equality in federal law. The Supreme Court had stated in 2015 that the Constitution guarantees the right to same-sex marriage.

According to a Gallup poll taken last month, roughly 71% of Americans now support same-sex marriage.