AG McDaniel Announces Support For Same-sex Marriage

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel (D) became the first high-ranking publicly-elected official in Arkansas to announce his support for same-sex marriage rights.

At an Associated Press Managing Editors conference on Saturday, McDaniel said he supported gay marriage, but would defend a state law facing a legal challenge because it was his constitutional duty.

“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,” McDaniel told the AP. “It’s become more and more difficult for me to accept the idea of anyone being treated as a second class citizen.”

At least one group supporting gay rights in Arkansas released a statement on McDaniel’s comments.

The Stonewall Democratic Caucus of Arkansas, which represents gay and lesbian Democratic voters, applauded his announcement.

“As exciting as this announcement is, it was met with little surprise. Our state’s top legal official is a great individual and public servant with an open mind and open heart. Also, the fact is that more and more people across the state and nation continue to embrace marriage equality. As this happens it is important they speak out and be a witness to others that love will prevail over prejudice. It is particularly important when elected officials make that public stand for equality. Now that almost one-third of our nation’s states recognize marriage equality, we are more and more excited about the day in which announcements such as this will no longer be considered ‘news,'” said Eric McDaniel, head of the Stonewall Caucus.

Eric McDaniel is distantly related to Dustin McDaniel, but says he has never discussed the matter with the Attorney General.

“Separately, we are not concerned with the attorney general’s decision to defend the ban,” Eric McDaniel said. “As the courts in so many other states have ruled similar bans to be unconstitutional, it can make an even stronger statement on behalf of equality for those harboring prejudices to have their day in court.

The Human Rights campaign, a national group that supports equal rights for gays and lesbians, announced last week a three-year, $8.5 million campaign to expand gay rights in the South.