Arkansas Attorney General Supports Gay Marriage, But Will Defend State's Ban [View all]

[RandySF]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said Saturday he supports allowing same-sex couples to wed but will continue defending his state's 2004 ban on gay marriages in court.

McDaniel, a Democrat serving his final year as the state's top attorney, became the first statewide official in Arkansas to back same-sex marriage.

"I want to tell you I do support marriage equality and I do believe Arkansans should have the right to be equal in the eyes of the law," said McDaniel, speaking at the Associated Press Managing Editors convention.

Voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, but that ban and others nationwide are facing legal challenges.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/03/arkansas-gay-marriage_n_5259683.html?utm_hp_ref=politics