Virginia Senator Mark Warner on Monday
reversed his opposition to gay marriage.
“I support marriage equality because
it is the fair and right thing to do,” Warner wrote in a Facebook
post. “Like many Virginians and Americans, my views on gay
marriage have evolved, and this is the inevitable extension of my
efforts to promote equality and opportunity for everyone. I was
proud to be the first Virginia governor to extend anti-discrimination
protections to LGBT state workers. I n 2010, I supported an end to
the military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, and earlier this month
I signed an amicus brief urging the repeal of DOMA. I believe
we should continue working to expand equal rights and opportunities
for all Americans.”
Warner, a Democrat, did not support
marriage equality during his last election but he has spoken out
against Virginia's 2006 constitutional amendment which excludes gay
couples from marriage.
He joins a growing list of U.S.
senators who have made endorsements ahead of two related cases before
the Supreme Court, including Senator Rob
Portman, a Republican from Ohio, and Senator Claire
McCaskill, a Democrat from Missouri.