Pennsylvania GOP Rep. Glen Thompson can’t figure out why everyone made such a fuss about the fact that he celebrated his gay son’s wedding just three days after casting his vote against protecting same-sex marriage rights. It’s a real head-scratcher, isn’t it?
To recap, last month Thompson was one of 157 Republicans to vote against the Respect for Marriage Act, which seeks to repeal the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act and require federal recognition of same-sex marriages in the United States.
Days later he said — through a spokesperson– that he was “thrilled to attend and celebrate” his gay son’s wedding.
Related: 5 times anti-gay bigots were caught engaging in very pro-gay behavior behind closed doors
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The House vote came about after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, sending the issue of abortion back to individual states. Many of those states have since made access to abortion impossible or highly restricted. Justice Clarence Thomas, in his concurring opinion on the ruling, said the court should look again at Obergefell v. Hodges. That 2015 case legalized same-sex marriage across the U.S.
Speaking with NBC news affiliate WJAC, Thompson said, “I was surprised first of all that my personal family business became a national focus. I’ll be honest with you I didn’t read, see, or hear any of that as we were busy as a family at that point.”
If he wants help drawing a connection, he could start with his own guest list.
A wedding attendee leaked audio of Thompson’s toast to Buzzfeed News, telling the outlet “I think the word should definitely get out there. These politicians need to be exposed for who they really are.”
Related: Audio of anti-LGBTQ lawmaker’s speech at gay son’s wedding leaks and the tweets are brutal
Thompson added insult to injury by calling his critics “sad.”
“It shows you what some people will do and how sad some people are with what they will politicize,” he said. “I’m just so thankful for all the support I received not only among my constituents but quite frankly across the state and surprisingly all across the country.”
The way he sees it, “those political messaging bills, and the Democrats do those before the election — that’s exactly what that was all about.”
The bill’s exclusively Republican opponents argue it is superfluous as Supreme Court precedent already protects the right of two individuals to marry in the United States, despite the fact that 50 years of abortion rights precedent just went up in smoke.
47 of his GOP House colleagues crossed the aisle to be on the right side of history and protect the hard-won rights of LGBTQ Americans.
The bill is now in the hands of the Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said he’ll bring it to the floor when he has the necessary Republican support for it to pass.
Jack Meoff
The other question is why his son wants him at the wedding when he is actively working to remove his son’s rights. Why isn’t he speaking out about his father instead?
fur_hunter
Thank you. Excellent point.
My2CentsWorth
Maybe his son is a LogCabin Republican.
DuMaurier
Maybe, but I think we all know family stuff is complicated. I have many “problematic” relatives, and when there’s some kind of gathering it’s a choice between speaking up and accepting things getting uncomfortable or letting it roll off. My sister likes to stir things up, and good for her; I choose to pretend I’m not hearing what I just heard.
PoetDaddy
He is surprised by his hypocrisy because he is just another pathetic Republican FATHEAD (as we can see from his photo).
Mamasita
This man is a disgrace. You can’t talk the talk and not walk the walk. Any person who doesn’t fight to protect their child’s future, happiness and rights, should be ashamed and called out. Homophobic, hypocrite, asshat. People like this make me furious! It took years of strife, deaths, lack of protections to get some equal rights for LGBTQ+ Laws, protection and Marriage rights. They may be on the books for now, but Roe v Wade taught us just how easily it can be dissolved.
Burtram Fidelity
What a bloated puerco!
fur_hunter
Having retired and moved to the SW coast of Mexico up from Zihuatanejo……..your comment made me chuckle because I know what that word means. HEHEHEHEH HAHAHAHAHA EHHEHEHEHE
gregg2010
I am saying, “I just can’t believe it!” far too often.
Robert Bradley
I agree! I’m saying the GOP are hypocrites too often as well. What a disgusting lot!
SDR94103
like most evil repugs, he’s an idiot.
James
HE IS A NARCISSISTIC PIECE OF SHIT WHO ONLY CARES ABOUT HIMSELF.
HIS SON IS A NARCISSITC SELFISH PIECE OF SHIT ALSO. I HOPE HIS MARRIAGE IS MISERABLE.
fur_hunter
James…… Thank you.
James
Such selfish people. Only care about themselves.
fur_hunter
You are totally CORRECT!
Tiredoftheinsanity
Take off the rose colored glasses you ignorant, homophpobic man (not a father) . You fall back on the new party line that somehow it is ok to vote against gay marriage bec the Supremen Ct has approved it (Knowing full well the intent of the men and woman that you voted to approve be appointed to SCOTUS) and then gleefully attend your son’s wedding to another male. Hypocritical, Unchristian,(in a true practicing Christian sense) Un American and in case you missed it, very unpaternal. Smoke that!!
Jer
He notes that Democrats only take actions which help people “before an election.”
Maybe he’s never noticed, but it’s ALWAYS before the next election.
And these elections continue to give Republicans the opportunity to hurt people.
Doug
No one is this dense. Thompson is deliberately playing stupid because it allows him to stay on both sides of the fence.
nyxy
Is this really a surprise that he’d rather bury his head in the sand than address his own hypocrisy?
Glendabulous
If he is really that confused as to why his vote against equal rights goes against his own son’s marriage then he isn’t smart enough to be a member of the Supreme Court.
nm4047
would be more interested in hearing what the son and now son-in-law have to say on the fact, they invited him and that he attended their wedding after the vote he cast.
leauxbeaux
Confused? He is a Republican!
Caelestius
We can very effectively show the hypocrites of Congress how we feel about their jello backbones every two years in the U.S. — v.o.t.e. t.h.e.m. o.u.t.