Sen. Diane Feinstein

Florida's Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is the first Republican member of Congress to co-sponsor the Respect for Marriage Act. The legislation, introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congressman Jerrold Nadler, would pave the way to make gay marriage legal within all 50 states by acknowledging that government should not define a couple by their sexual orientation.

Family Equality Council, America’s foremost advocate for LGBT family equality, offers its full support for the Respect for Marriage Act just introduced in the U.S. Senate. “For LGBT families raising children, marriage is more than just benefits and protections,” said Family Equality Council Executive Director Jennifer Chrisler. “Marriage is also an institution that carries with it a universal definition of family.