Dodd switches position on gay marriage

This morning, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) announced that he now supports full marriage rights for same sex couples instead of just civil unions. Dodd shared his thoughts on Twitter.

He tweeted:

I know public officials aren’t supposed to change their minds, but I wanted to share with you why I changed mine. http://bit.ly/gq8KQ

Dodd linked to an op-ed he penned for the Meriden Record Journal (Conn.) on Sunday. In it, the senator wrote that “I am also proud to now count myself among the many elected officials, advocates, and ordinary citizens who support full marriage equality for same-sex couples.”

Dodd noted that his past support for civil unions was because he was “raised to believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.” However, he noted that “effective leaders must be able and willing to grow and change over their service…Thirty-five years ago, who could have imagined that we’d have an African-American President of the United States?”

Democrats are under increasing pressure from LGBT groups to overturn standing provisions that they deem unjust. For example, gay rights groups have criticized the Obama administration for issuing a legal brief in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents federal acknowledgment of same-sex marriages. LGBT groups have also accused the administration and Congress of dragging its feet on repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy regarding gays in the military. Several gay rights groups have even held protests of DNC fundraisers in order to pressure Democratic leaders to support their policies.

Last Wednesday, the Connecticut General Assembly voted to make same-sex marriage legal abiding by a state Supreme Court ruling issued late last year. Dodd also faces a tough general election challenge from from GOP primary front runner, former congressman Rob Simmons.