Former Republican Congressman George Santos, who was recently expelled from the House of Representatives, has stirred controversy by criticizing same-sex marriage on the anniversary of his own wedding. Santos, the first non-incumbent openly gay Republican elected to the U.S. Congress, expressed his belief that same-sex marriage should have been called a civil union instead. This surprising stance has raised eyebrows and led to debates within the LGBTQ community.
Santos, who faced expulsion from Congress due to a series of charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, has chosen a curious moment to voice his opinions on marriage. Despite being in a same-sex marriage himself, he asserted, “I was an opposer of gay marriage,” emphasizing that he believed it should have been labeled as a civil union. He argued that such a distinction would have provided the same legal benefits and rights under the law, suggesting that government involvement in marriage was unnecessary.
On the occasion of his second anniversary with his husband, Matt, Santos publicly acknowledged their relationship, describing Matt as his “partner in life” and a source of unwavering support. However, his recent comments have sparked confusion and raised questions about the internal dynamics of his marriage.
In addition to his controversial stance on same-sex marriage, Santos has faced criticism for expressing transphobic beliefs and making false claims during his political career. His expulsion from Congress marked a historic moment, as he became only the sixth lawmaker in history to be removed from the lower chamber of Congress. Santos’s contradictory positions on marriage and his troubled political history continue to be a subject of debate within the LGBTQ community and beyond.