Voice for Equality: Bob Barr

Robert Laurence "Bob" Barr, Jr is a former federal prosecutor and a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented Georgia's 7th congressional district as a Republican from 1995 to 2003. He was the Libertarian Party nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 election. Barr attained national prominence as one of the leaders of the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, but he became even more famous in the LGBT community by authoring and sponsoring the 1996 so-called "Defense of Marriage Act," which prohibited the federal government from honoring the marriages of same-sex couples.

In 2006, after joining the Libertarian Party and serving on its national committee, Mr. Barr's public statements on marriage equality began to change. At the 2008 Libertarian national convention, Mr. Barr pledged to work to repeal DOMA:

Later, on September 15, 2009, Bob Barr issued the following statement at the introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act by Rep. Jerrold Nadler. Agreeing with his old adversary, Bill Clinton, he stated:

“I join with former President Bill Clinton in commending Rep. Jerry Nadler for introducing the ‘Respect for Marriage Act of 2009.’ This legislation would strengthen the principle that each state is free to set the definition of marriage the citizens of that state have adopted. Rep. Nadler’s legislation would also repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, and by so doing, remove the federal government from involving itself in matters of defining ‘marriage,’ which historically and according to principles of federalism, are properly state matters and not federal.” [Link]

Freedom to Marry salutes Bob Barr as a Voice for Equality!

If you're inspired by Bob Barr's change of heart and support...why not get involved? Link to No on 1/Protect Maine Equality to find out how you can help with the vital work of preserving marriage equality in Maine!

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!