Alabama legislator says she’ll expose affairs of pols trying to restore gay marriage ban

A state representative from Alabama wrote a Facebook post this weekend in which she threatened to expose the affairs of politicians trying to restore the state's ban on same-sex marriage, Kent Faulk of AL.com reports.

State Rep. Patricia Todd (D) — the first openly gay legislator elected in Alabama — had praised a federal judge's January 23 ruling striking down the ban. But when the House Speaker and Attorney General argued that a higher court should stay the order, Todd posted this on Facebook:

"This (is) a time where you find out who are accepting, loving people. To say I am disappointed in Speaker Hubbard comment's and Attorney General Strange choice to appeal the decision is an understatement. I will not stand by and allow legislators to talk about 'family values' when they have affairs, and I know of many who are and have. I will call our elected officials who want to hide in the closet OUT"

Later, Todd stood by her unusual threat, arguing that the circumstances called for it, as you can see in the video up top. "Think about all the people in this room, and all the love that you feel for each other and these couples who are about to make history of being the first couples married in the state of Alabama," she said. "We have families that will now be legitimized overnight. Children who will be affected and be able to call both parents 'mom' or 'dad.'"

"This is the fight of our life. This is why I ran for office."

Todd continued: "That's a true family value. Many of you all know that I have thrown the gauntlet down to my elected peers that should they decide to go and spout that family value, then I'm gonna call 'em out. And I'm willing to jeopardize my political campaign to do it. This is the fight of our life. This is why I ran for office. I'm not a politician, I'm an activist."

A district court judge has issued a short-term stay on the Alabama ruling, pending appellate court action — so same-sex couples can't currently marry in the state. If the appellate court takes no action by February 9, the lower court ruling striking down the same-sex marriage ban will go into effect. Check out Kent Faulk's piece at AL.com for more.

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