Arkansas AG supports gay marriage, will defend ban

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said Saturday he supports allowing same-sex couples to wed but will continue defending his state's 2004 ban on gay marriages in court.

McDaniel, a Democrat serving his final year as the state's top attorney, became the first statewide official in Arkansas to back same-sex marriage.

"I want to tell you I do support marriage equality and I do believe Arkansans should have the right to be equal in the eyes of the law," said McDaniel, speaking at the Associated Press Managing Editors convention.

Voters approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, but that ban and others nationwide are facing legal challenges.

Seventeen states allow gay marriage, and federal judges have struck down bans in Michigan, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma and Virginia. An Arkansas judge is expected to rule by Friday in a lawsuit challenging Arkansas' ban.

"I'm going to zealously defend our constitution, but at the same time I think it's important to let people where I stand on the matter," McDaniel said after his speech.

McDaniel said during a question-and-answer session with editors there wasn't any single incident that changed his mind about gay marriage.

"It's become more and more difficult for me to accept the idea of anyone being treated as a second-class citizen," McDaniel said.

McDaniel announced his support for gay marriage after criticizing U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for telling his state counterparts in February they weren't obligated to defend laws in their states banning same-sex marriage if the laws discriminate in a way forbidden by the Constitution.

McDaniel said he didn't believe attorneys general should allow their personal views to influence whether they defend a state law.

"I do not take orders from Eric Holder, and I'm determined to live up to my obligation, and that includes with regard to our state's definition of marriage," McDaniel said.

McDaniel had voiced support for civil unions when he ran for attorney general in 2006, but said then he believed marriage was between a man and a woman. McDaniel ran briefly for governor but dropped out last year after admitting to an inappropriate relationship with a lawyer.

McDaniel said after his speech that he had considered backing marriage equality during that brief bid for the state's top office.

"Even when I was running for governor, there were times when I was like, `don't you think it's time that I just say this and be done with it?"' McDaniel said. "It's controversial. There are some people who are going to think it was a great thing that I made this statement while in office, and there are going to be some people who are going to be deeply offended and angry. It really came down to why not today?"

McDaniel said he was not calling on any other statewide officials or candidates to support gay marriage, and said he would not campaign for ending the ban while serving as attorney general.

The head of the group that campaigned for the ban in 2004 said he was surprised by McDaniel's comments but still had faith in McDaniel's office to defend the amendment.

"I'm disappointed because he didn't have to take a position one way or the other. It is disappointing that he has taken this position," said Jerry Cox, president of the Arkansas Family Council. "However, I do not doubt the ability of his staff to adequately defend the Arkansas marriage amendment because I believe the people on his staff are very capable lawyers and I have seen them work very capably on other issues."

The head of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest U.S. lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, praised McDaniel for his comments.

"Today Attorney General McDaniel adds his voice to an ever-growing chorus of Americans from across the country that are standing up for the right of all couples to marry--and there is no turning back that tide," HRC President Chad Griffin, an Arkansas native, said in a statement released by the group. "As a proud Arkansan, I know it's only a matter of time before committed and loving gay and lesbian couples in my home state get to enjoy all the rights and benefits that come with civil marriage."

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