''Barbara Bush's advocacy shows that equality knows no party label.''
Joe Solmonese in a press release from the Human Rights Campaign. He announced a video featuring Barbara Bush, 29, lending her support to gay and lesbian marriage in New York state. (HRC)
''I'm Barbara Bush, and I'm a New Yorker for marriage equality. New York is about fairness and equality. And everyone should have the right to marry the person that they love. Join us.''
The message from the daughter of former Republican President George W. Bush is mostly welcome news, though not completely surprising. In 2004, twin sisters Barbara and Jenna were reportedly set to attend the wedding of a gay friend; and their mother, Laura Bush, made mostly supportive statements in 2010.
President Bush, however, campaigned in 2004 against gay rights with a promise to religious fundamentalists: He would introduce a Constitutional amendment to permanently restrict ''marriage'' as a union between one man and one woman. Many observers believe that his promise (along with anti-gay marriage ballot initiatives held in many states) helped to re-elect the unpopular president for his second term.
