State Rep Kathy Stein (D- LEX, KY) dropping gay marriage debate like a hot potato

Stein dropping gay marriage debate

By Elisabeth J. Beardsley
ebeardsley@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal

State Rep. Kathy Stein vowed Friday to not try to re-open the gay marriage debate, as she took the helm of the House Judiciary Committee as its new chairwoman.

Shortly after being appointed Friday, Stein told reporters that in her new role, she expects to tone down the reputation she’s earned as a liberal firebrand. Her elevation had been opposed by socially conservative activists.

Despite her vocal opposition to the ban on gay marriage that lawmakers and voters approved in 2004, Stein said yesterday she would drop the matter even though she now has more power to push it.

“It would solve nothing,” Stein, D-Lexington, said. “It would simply inflame the situation as it was before, and that’s to no one’s benefit.”

During the April 2004 debate over the constitutional amendment, Stein cried on the House floor as she explained her vote of opposition.

“With this cowardice, with this hypocrisy, and with these people who call themselves good Christians, who have voted in a way only to make themselves more popular with religious zealots back home, I am ashamed to be a member of this body tonight,” she had said.

More:
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770105035

Funny what a little power can do.