Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor has
reiterated his opposition to marriage equality, saying he voted for
the 2004 ballot question that placed a ban on gay marriage in the
Arkansas Constitution.
When asked by local media on Monday to
weigh in on a recent ruling striking down the amendment as
unconstitutional, Pryor answered: “My position on that specifically
is well-documented. That was a ballot initiative here in Arkansas …
I voted for the amendment to ban gay marriage in Arkansas.”
(Related: Gay
weddings in Arkansas come to a halt as state Supreme Court issues
stay.)
Pryor is one of only three Democratic
senators who have not endorsed marriage equality, the other two
holdouts are Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu and West Virginia
Senator Joe Manchin.
Last year, Pryor said he's “in the
undecided category” on the issue of allowing gay couples to marry.
Pryor spokesman Erik Dorey emphasized
that while Pryor remains opposed to same-sex marriage, the senator
supports gay rights in general.
“Mark supports the traditional
definition of marriage,” Dorey
said. “He also voted to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'
supported legislation to end workplace discrimination on the basis of
sexual orientation, and as Arkansas' attorney general, Mark was an
early champion for laws against hate crimes.”