CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller says he now opposes a federal law barring same-sex marriage. But his fellow Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin, still supports the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act.
The two West Virginia senators offered differing views Monday, ahead of U.S. Supreme Court hearings in gay marriage-related cases.
Rockefeller said churches and ministers should never have to perform marriages that violate their beliefs. But he also said the government shouldn’t discriminate against same-sex couples.
Manchin said his faith has guided his belief that marriage is between one man and one woman.
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Rockefeller said younger West Virginians and his own children have pushed his generation to revisit its views on this issue. He said this challenging of his beliefs has led him to conclude that the federal law is wrong.
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