State Rep. Sarah Davis is making history in the Lone Star State by becoming the first Republican lawmaker to publicly support same-sex marriage.
Davis refused to sign an anti-gay letter issued by her Republican colleagues last week, and made comments in an interview with the Texas Observer that amounted to an endorsement of the right of same-sex couples to marry.
“I just don’t agree with the sentiment of the letter,” Davis told the Observer in an interview published Thursday. “I don’t feel the need to pass legislation or vote for legislation that prohibits two adults who love each other to be able to be joined in a civil union or marriage. It does not affect my marriage.”
According to the Observer, that makes Davis a first in Texas history. Davis represents a district in an affluent area of Houston.
Same-sex marriage is not currently legal in Texas. Ahead of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that could result in the invalidation of Texas’ gay marriage ban, state lawmakers have attempted to pass legislation that could undermine such a ruling.
Davis has expressed support for civil unions in the past, and already has the endorsement of the LGBT rights groups Log Cabin Republicans and Equality Texas.
“I haven’t had an opportunity to vote, but I’ve spoken about the issue,” Davis told the Observer. “In situations where I’ve been asked, I’ve always stated my position, so I don’t think this is new ground that I’ve just staked out.”
