Colorado Senator Mark Udall has come
out in favor of full marriage for gay and lesbian couples.
The 61-year-old Democrat backed last
year's successful effort to end “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” the
military policy set to expire on September 20 that bans gay and
bisexual troops from serving openly, but previously had not publicly
announced he supports full marriage equality.
During Saturday's Ally Awards – a
fundraiser for the state's leading gay rights group, One Colorado,
which took place in Denver's Botanic Gardens – Udall was asked his
stance on the issue.
“I support marriage equality,”
Udall answered when asked by Colorado activist Sunnivie Brydum. “We
have work to do. Let's go do it.”
“I think the way in which it's
unfolding has lessons for all of us. Let's work in our states.
Let's work with our neighbors. Let's work with our communities.
Let's work with our elected officials. And I have no doubt that
we'll soon reach marriage equality in states and across our nation.”
(The video is embedded in the right panel of this page.)