Ken Mehlman- in honor of Pride Month here's a piece on why both parties should be in favor of same-sex marriage, courtesy of Ken Mehlman and the Union Leader: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120126/OPINION02/701269967

1. Ken Mehlman: Republicans should
be for same-sex marriage
Ken Mehlman
“Live Free or Die” isn’t just the official motto for a great state. As the 62nd Republican National
Committee Chairman, I think it’s a mantra our party should live by. I hope that New Hampshire
legislators will remember this slogan and reject proposals to strip citizens of their right to marry.
The party of Lincoln and Reagan should stand first and foremost for freedom. It’s part of our
heritage and ought to be part of our DNA. Freedom for Americans of all races is why our party
was founded. And our greatest moments — from the unbelievable economic recovery unleashed
by lower taxes and less regulation to the fall of the Berlin Wall — resulted when we promoted
freedom.
Stripping away the right of adults in New Hampshire to marry the person they love is antithetical
to freedom. If we really believe (and we should) that every citizen is endowed by their creator with
the right to pursue happiness, shouldn’t this include the right to marriage? If we believe in limited
government, how can we justify expanding the authority of the state to take away this most
personal, fundamental right? Aren’t politicians already too involved in too much of our lives? Why
would we want to expand government to such a personal space?
Allowing New Hampshire citizens to marry the person they love isn’t just consistent with
maximizing freedom. It also promotes responsibility, commitment and stability; it promotes family
values. Again, our history provides a good road map: One of our party’s finest hours was the
passage of welfare reform because it strengthened families and promoted marriage. Why would
we want to take away this right from anyone?
New Hampshire’s civil marriage law protects religious freedom. No religious institution has to
perform or recognize same-sex marriages. This is important because different religious traditions
have different views on this question.
But despite these differences, so many of our faiths and traditions are rooted in the Golden Rule:
Do unto others as you would want done to you. Isn’t allowing adults to marry the person they love
consistent with the Golden Rule? If you were born gay (as I was), how would you feel if your state
government took away this basic civil right that is available to all of your neighbors? How would
you feel if you were a young person and were told by your state that the loving and stabilizing
relationship you see in your mom and dad would never be available to you?
During my time in politics, I always believed that good policy is good politics. Looking at the views
of New Hampshire voters, it’s pretty clear that stripping the right to marry is bad policy and bad
politics. Sixty-two percent of New Hampshire voters oppose taking away the right to marry.
I will be in New Hampshire this week — to urge legislative members of my party to reject House
Bill 437. It’s time to stand up for individual freedom and liberty, to live by the Golden Rule and to
oppose any effort to diminish or strip away individual rights, and to return to the real business of
building business, keeping taxes down and growing our economy. “Live Free or Die” should be
more than just a slogan.
Ken Mehlman, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, is a businessman in
New York.