Factbox-Who’re 12 U.S. Senate Republicans who voted to guard same-sex marriage? By Reuters

By Moira Warburton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Twelve Republican U.S. senators joined Democrats this week in voting to codify same-sex marriage in america, a invoice advocates mentioned was essential to make sure the Supreme Courtroom doesn’t overturn its earlier choice defending it.

Here’s what they mentioned about supporting the Respect for Marriage Act, which some social conservatives object to:

SUSAN COLLINS, MAINE

Collins is among the most reasonable Senate Republicans. She mentioned in an announcement she was “proud” to be a lead sponsor of the invoice, including that it could guarantee marriage equality for same-sex and interracial {couples} and strengthen non secular liberty and conscience protections.

ROB PORTMAN, OHIO

Portman, who’s retiring on the finish of the yr, was a prime negotiator on the invoice. He has been a vocal supporter of homosexual marriage since 2013, two years after his son got here out as homosexual. “It is a change of coronary heart from the place of a father,” he informed the Cincinnati Enquirer on the time.

THOM TILLIS, NORTH CAROLINA

“When folks first noticed me become involved, they had been scratching their heads,” Tillis, one other key Republican negotiator, informed Politico on Tuesday, including that his help was resulting from his “libertarian aspect.”

MITT ROMNEY, UTAH

Romney, a Mormon who believes in marriage between a person and a lady, agreed to help the laws after he was happy that it could respect non secular freedom. “This laws gives certainty to many LGBTQ People, and it alerts that Congress — and I — esteem and love all of our fellow People equally,” he mentioned in an announcement.

LISA MURKOWSKI, ALASKA

Murkowski, a reasonable Senate Republican, was the third Republican senator in 2013 to come back out in help of same-sex marriage. The legislation ought to acknowledge marriage based mostly on “love between two individuals,” she mentioned forward of Tuesday’s vote.

DAN SULLIVAN, ALASKA

Sullivan mentioned he disagreed with the 2015 Supreme Courtroom choice that established the nationwide proper to same-sex marriage. “I mentioned then I’d respect the courtroom’s choice and likewise proceed to combat for, respect, and defend the non secular liberty of all People,” he mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday, including that the invoice “is far more about selling and increasing non secular liberty protections than same-sex marriage.”

CYNTHIA LUMMIS, WYOMING

Though she additionally believes in “conventional” marriage, Lummis mentioned she believed the separation of church and state was extra essential than particular person non secular opinions. Lummis described her vote as “a painful train in admonishment and pretty brutal soul-searching.”

TODD YOUNG, INDIANA

Younger wrote in an op-ed within the Indy Star that the invoice “will deliver america authorities nearer to treating each teams (LGBT and heterosexual folks) with dignity and respect than we ever have in our historical past,” including that he wouldn’t have supported the invoice if it endangered non secular freedoms.

SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, WEST VIRGINIA

The invoice “doesn’t reduce the standard sanctity of marriage or jeopardize the liberty of spiritual establishments,” Capito mentioned in an announcement.

JONI ERNST, IOWA

In an announcement to the Des Moines Register, Ernst mentioned, “This invoice protects non secular freedoms and can merely keep the established order in Iowa.” She informed Politico that though she believes “in conventional marriage,” her stance developed with rising common help for same-sex marriage.

ROY BLUNT, MISSOURI

Blunt resisted vital opposition, together with Missouri’s secretary of state calling on him to oppose the invoice. “It is higher for the Congress to talk on this subject, than to let the courts and numerous federal entities resolve … to attenuate non secular freedom,” the retiring senator informed the Kansas Metropolis Star.

RICHARD BURR, NORTH CAROLINA

Burr, who retires on the finish of December, doesn’t seem to have publicly commented on his help for the laws.