Voice for Equality: Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian American bodybuilder, actor, model, businessman and politician, currently serving as the 38th Governor of the state of California. Schwarzenegger began weight-training at fifteen. He was awarded the title of Mr. Universe at age 22 and went on to win the Mr. Olympia contest a total of seven times. Schwarzenegger gained worldwide fame as a Hollywood action film icon, noted for his lead role in such films as Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator. As a Republican, he was first elected on October 7, 2003, in a special recall election to replace then-California Governor, Gray Davis. Schwarzenegger was sworn in on November 17, 2003, to serve the remainder of Davis's term. Schwarzenegger was then re-elected on November 7, 2006, in California's 2006 gubernatorial election, to serve a full term as governor, defeating Democrat Phil Angelides, who was California State Treasurer at the time. Schwarzenegger was sworn in for a second term on January 5, 2007. Learn more here.

Mr. Schwarzenegger is another example of a Republican who has changed his position and come out in support of the freedom to marry. When the California Supreme Court overturned the state's ban on marriage equality in 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger, who had twice vetoed freedom to marry legislation, decided he would be one less person standing in the way of gay couples joyously planning their nuptials. Arnold said he supported the ruling, which overturned an unconstitutional voter-approved ban. He told the San Francisco Chronicle:

When the people vote, people are not legal experts, constitutional experts or any of that. I think that's why we have the courts. People may vote with good intentions, but then the court says, 'This is not constitutional.' It's not that the court interferes with the will of the people. But the court says, 'You voted for something, but it's not constitutionally right.' [Link]

Freedom to Marry salutes Arnold Schwarzenegger as a Voice for Equality! Learn about other Voices for Equality here.

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