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Article published Feb 26, 2005
Parents rebuke Romney for gay marriage
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Associated Press
BOSTON --
Gay and straight couples and their children delivered a letter to Gov. Mitt
Romney on Friday condemning his recent remarks to South Carolina Republicans as
ridiculing same-sex families.Julie and Hillary Goodridge, lead plaintiffs in the
lawsuit that led to the legalization of gay marriage in Massachusetts, led a
contingent of about 40 people who delivered the letter to the governor's office
and requested a meeting.But Romney was out of state to deliver a speech in
Utah."You are certainly entitled to court the right wing of your party," the
letter read, "but we respectfully ask that you not do so on the backs of
Massachusetts families headed by same-sex couples."Speaking Monday to fellow
Republicans in Spartanburg, Romney said same-sex couples "are actually having
children born to them. ... It's not right on paper. It's not right in fact.
Every child has a right to a mother and a father."Though Romney would not say
whether he plans to run for president in 2008, the South Carolina speech was
broadcast live on C-SPAN and was widely seen as an early step in establishing
himself as a candidate.The governor "can do what he needs to do to enhance his
career," said Julie Goodridge, 47, who brought the couple's 9-year-old daughter
Annie to the Statehouse. But it's "completely inappropriate for him to make
derogatory comments about families in the commonwealth.""The governor has made
clear that he does not support gay marriage," Romney spokeswoman Shawn Feddeman
said."However, he has consistently advocated respect and tolerance for gays and
lesbians and their families."