As candles flickered on long wooden dining tables under a ceiling decorated with large string lights, guests sat before them with glasses of sparkling wine to listen to speeches to toast the two newlyweds.
But Friday night’s wedding in southwest Philadelphia included a controversial speaker who happened to be the father of one of the grooms.
Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Glenn Thompson, wearing a black tuxedo and black tie, toasted his son and new son-in-law, both seated across from him in white wedding blazers. Standing next to his wife, the congressman told guests how “blessed” he felt to celebrate the men’s marriage and to welcome a new member to his family. Thompson said any parent hopes and prays that their child stays healthy, finds their way and eventually finds “that true love so they get a chance to experience that — someone to grow old with.”
“We love it when they find their one true love, especially when they’re part of our families then. That’s what we’re rooting for,” Thompson said, praising her son for his choice of a husband.
But as some in the crowd knew, and some would learn later, Thompson had just three days earlier voted against a bill that would have codified federal protections for marriage equality. He was one of them 157 House Republicans who voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which acts as a backstop in case the Supreme Court overturns marriage equality, which LGBTQ activists fear is a very real possibility after the protections are overturned against abortion by the court.
After the vote, Thompson’s press secretary, Maddison Stone, said the Center Daily Times the bill was a “gimmick” by Democrats, despite 47 Republicans breaking with Thompson and the rest of the party to vote for it. “This bill was nothing more than an election-year messaging ploy for Democrats in Congress who have failed to address historic inflation and out-of-control prices at gas pumps and grocery stores,” he said. said Stone.
The hypocrisy of Thompson’s vow before his son’s wedding was first noted by Gawker Thursday, one day before the event. Monday, NBC news then reported that Thompson had attended the event after his “no” vote.
BuzzFeed News can report that Thompson not only attended the event, but gave a speech to celebrate the nuptials, which she called “a really good experience.” Media of the speech was provided to BuzzFeed News by a guest, who asked to remain anonymous.
“I think the word should definitely get out,” the guest said of his decision to have BuzzFeed News publish it. “These politicians need to be exposed for who they really are.”
BuzzFeed News then published an edited audio version and transcript of the remarks that includes most of Thompson’s speech but removes the sections where he names his son and son-in-law. (Like other news outlets, BuzzFeed News is not naming the couple as they are not public figures. When reached on their honeymoon, Thompson’s new son-in-law told BuzzFeed News that the couple was not sure if they wanted to say something. publicly right now.)
Stone, Thompson’s press secretary, did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story, but previously confirmed to NBC and other media outlets that Thompson had attended the wedding. “Congressman and Mrs. Thompson were thrilled to attend and celebrate their son’s marriage Friday night as he began this new chapter in his life,” Stone. said. “The Thompsons are very happy to welcome their new son-in-law to their family.”
Should the Supreme Court annul Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 case that enshrined marriage equality nationwide, individual states would once again have the power to determine whether or not to deny same-sex marriage licenses. The bill Thompson voted against would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 and ensure that federal benefits and protections remain in place for couples such as the legislator’s child, regardless of their state of residence.
