Charlie Crist Congratulates Delaware, Rhode Island On Gay Marriage

Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist on Thursday congratulated Delaware and Rhode Island for legalizing gay marriage.

“Some great news: On Tuesday, Delaware became the 11^th state to allow marriage equality. And just a few days ago, Rhode Island adopted a similar measure, which followed victories last fall in Maine, Maryland and Washington. I most certainly support marriage equality in Florida and look forward to the day it happens here,” Crist wrote in a Facebook post.

In 2006, Crist signed a petition in favor of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a heterosexual union in Florida.

Last December, the former Republican governor who made an unsuccessful 2010 bid for the Senate as an independent officially became a Democrat.

Crist, who has long denied rumors that he's gay, said his decision was based on the GOP's shift to the right.

“What changed is the leadership of the Republican Party. As I said at the [DNC] convention, I didn't leave the Republican Party, it left me. Whether the issue was immigration, or education, or you name it – the environment. I feel at home now,” he said.

Shortly after switching political allegiances, Crist said he regretted signing that petition in 2006 but stopped short of endorsing marriage equality.