Politics & Government
Kirkwood's Claire McCaskill Announces Support for Same-Sex Marriage
While the city of Kirkwood has taken steps to protect the LGBT community, the issue hasn't gained as much support across Missouri. Is McCaskill's announcement a signal of things to come?
Kirkwood's Claire McCaskill announced her support for same-sex marriage on Sunday, the Washington Post reports. McCaskill (D-MO) made the announcement on her personal Tumblr blog.
"I have come to the conclusion that our government should not limit the right to marry based on who you love," McCaskill wrote. "Good people disagree with me. On the other hand, my children have a hard time understanding why this is even controversial. I think history will agree with my children."
In supporting same-sex marriage, McCaskill joins a growing list of politicians, including U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio.
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Supporting same-sex couples isn't a new issue to Kirkwood. The city has taken steps to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents. In Dec. 2012, Kirkwood City Council voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance that protects residents from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The vote followed several months of work by the Kirkwood Human Rights Commission.
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Some nearby cities, including Clayton and University City, have created domestic partnership registries to show their support for same-sex couples. Most cities across Missouri haven't created such registries, however.
Does McCaskill's announcement signal possible change across Missouri? What do you think?
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