Rep. David Jolly (R-FL) announced his support for gay marriage Monday in a statement to The Washington Post.
The Post asked Jolly whether he supported same-sex marriage in light of a recent circuit court ruling that gave same-sex couples the right to marry in the Florida Keys. In response, Jolly said that he supported the decision and added that it is “fully appropriate” for a state to recognize both “traditional” and same-sex marriages.
“As a matter of my Christian faith, I believe in traditional marriage,” Jolly said in a statement to the newspaper. “But as a matter of Constitutional principle I believe in a form of limited government that protects personal liberty. To me, that means that the sanctity of one’s marriage should be defined by their faith and by their church, not by their state.”
Jolly beat former Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink (D) in a March special election to fill the late Rep. Bill Young’s (R-FL) seat. He is the eighth Republican member of Congress to voice his support for gay marriage, according to the Post.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), who is facing re-election this year, refused to say over the weekend whether he supported the circuit court’s ruling. The state of Florida is appealing the decision.