Conservatives are unhappy with Rep. David Jolly's (R-Fla.) recent announcement in support of gay marriage.
Jolly on Monday asserted his personal support for "traditional marriage," but said the government should allow for same-sex marriage "as a matter of Constitutional principle." Individuals identifying as "campaign volunteers, financial supporters and constituents" sent a letter to Jolly Wednesday urging him to apologize for his remarks.
"We call upon you to publicly apologize for this mistake and hold fast to your original position that states should define marriage as it has always been, the union of one man and one woman only. We also challenge you to not cower to the pressure, demands and intimidation of homosexual activists," they wrote, according to the Washington Post.
Jolly's announcement came after a Monroe County judge overturned the state's ban on gay marriage in the Florida Keys. In a statement to the Washington Post, the Republican representative expressed his support for the judge's decision to allow the county clerk to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Jolly said Monday that the right to marry whomever one likes should not be determined by the state. The letter-writers hit back at the notion.
"We reject your illusory and false dichotomy between your 'personal views' and 'public views' as a legislator as you made no such distinction during your campaign. Liberals for years have made the same arguments to deceptively triangulate on other moral issues," they wrote.
According to the Post, Jolly is the eighth Republican serving member of Congress to express support for gay marriage.
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