Jeb Bush evolves on gay marriage, urges 'respect' for same-sex spouses

Jeb Bush evolves on gay marriage, urges &#039;respect&#039; for same-sex spouses

(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

last updated 8 January 2015

President Obama isn't the only politician whose views on same-sex marriage have evolved. On Monday, right before Florida stared issuing marriage certificates for same-sex couples, former governor and future presumptive GOP presidential frontrunner Jeb Bush significantly softened his tone on gay marriage. "We live in a democracy, and regardless of our disagreements, we have to respect the rule of law," Bush said in a statement. He continued:

I hope that we can 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. [Bush, to The New York Times]

That may not sound very enthusiastic, but just a day earlier he had told The Miami Herald that states should be able to decide about gay marriage, as Florida had in a 2008 constitutional amendment banning same-sex nuptials. And 20 years ago, in a Miami Herald editorial from his first (unsuccessful) run for governor, Bush had asked: "Should sodomy be elevated to the same constitutional status as race and religion? My answer is No."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.