BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Rep. Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham) celebrated the federal court ruling striking down Alabama’s constitutional amendment on gay marriage, but she also has a message for her colleagues who have been outspoken against it on moral grounds.
“I will not stand by and allow legislators to talk about ‘family values’ when they have affairs, and I know of many who are and have,” Todd declared on Facebook. “I will call our elected officials who want to hide in the closet out.”
This morning Rep. Todd told the Decatur Daily “It is pretty well known that we have people in Montgomery who are or have had affairs… I just want them to be careful what they’re saying, some of it might come back to stick on them.”
Rep. Todd was elected to the state legislature in 2006, the same year the Alabama Sanctity of Marriage amendment banning gay marriage was approved by an overwhelming 81% of voters.
Since being elected, Rep. Todd has been the champion of gay rights activists in the state legislature, fighting for the repeal of the Sanctity of Marriage amendment and for increased rights for gay and lesbian Alabamians.
This year she plans to sponsor a bill that would protect gay and lesbian state employees and teachers from being discriminated against in the workplace, though she admits she may have burned too many bridges to be successful now.
In 2013 Rep. Todd traveled to Massachusetts to legally marry her longtime partner, Jennifer Clark. This past November Todd announced that Clark had filed for divorce in Massachusetts, though she is unable to in Alabama.
The ruling that struck down Alabama’s gay marriage ban is currently on hold while it is being considered by the 11th circuit court of appeals. If the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal does not extend the hold, the original ruling will go into effect on Feb. 9th.
Like this article? Hate it? Follow me and let me know how you feel on Twitter!
— Elizabeth BeShears (@LizEBeesh) January 21, 2015
