"Senator Feingold understands that religious institutions should have the freedom to marry adherents according to their interpretation of their faith, and not the dictates of politicians. American families will be strengthened by tasking couples with the legal responsibilities that come through civil marriage," said Jo Wyrick, NSD Interim Executive Director. "Americans are quickly moving towards full support for marriage equality, and we are seeing a new generation of Democrats emerge whose leadership will help turn that support into law."

According to the statement issued by the office of Senator Feingold, the Senator expressed his support for marriage equality publicly for the first time this weekend at a town hall meeting in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. The statement also confirmed the Senator's opposition to both the federal anti-marriage amendment and a similar amendment that will be placed before Wisconsin voters on a statewide ballot in November.

“As I said at the Kenosha County listening session, gay and lesbian couples should be able to marry and have access to the same rights, privileges and benefits that straight couples currently enjoy,” said Senator Feingold in his statement. “Denying people this basic American right is the kind of discrimination that has no place in our laws, especially in a progressive state like Wisconsin. The time has come to end this discrimination and the politics of divisiveness that has become part of this issue.”

On March 9th, 2006 Senator Feingold spoke about the need for civil protections for same-sex couples at the National Stonewall Democrats Capitol Champions event held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. There, Feingold criticized Republican lawmakers for playing politics with the domestic lives of Americans. His comments, while not yet fully calling for marriage equality at the time, left many in attendance wondering if the Senator would soon issue a public statement of support.

Currently, the platforms of state Democratic parties of California, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York and Washington State call for full marriage equality for same-sex couples. Numerous county and local Democratic parties have also called for marriage equality, as have Democratic organizations like the College Democrats and Young Democrats of America. For the first time, 2006 will also see Democratic gubernatorial nominees champion full marriage equality in California, Massachusetts, New York and Oregon.

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National Stonewall Democrats is the only national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democrats, with more than 90 local chapters across the nation. NSD is committed to working through the Democratic Party to advance the rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

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