Steph and Lela Figarelle became the first same-sex couple to be married at the top of the Empire State Building in 2012. The Anchorage couple returned home to a state that doesn't recognize gay marriage -- but the Figarelles think the tide may finally be turning in the Last Frontier, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski's revelation that she now supports gay marriage.
"What she wrote, and what she said seemed to come from the heart," said Steph Figarelle. "I think anytime you read something that strikes you as coming from someone's heart, means that they've thought long and hard."
Some opponents of gay marriage believe Alaska's senior senator is just bending to public opinion polls.
"I think,people who vote her into office need to ask hard questions, in terms of what other core values is she willing to sacrifice on the altar of public opinion," said Jim Minnery, president of Alaska Family Action.
Minnery claims that as little as two years ago, Murkowski supported a federal definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman.
"I think most Alaskans are aware that Senator Murkowski has changed her tune on a number of different issues, and this one is just in line with that," Minnery said. "I think it's not a surprise that she goes against her faith in terms of the Catholic Church."
But one of Murkowski's opponents in the 2010 Senate race, Joe Miller, says there were indications during that campaign that Murkowski supported gay rights.
"I don't think there is any question that attitudes on the issue are changing; it doesn't mean that it's right," Miller said. "My perspective is, this state is still continues to be firmly in favor of traditional marriage -- it certainly is a part of our constitution."
The legal and moral reasons for supporting or opposing same-sex marriage are colliding once again, with those on one side saying it will open floodgates to immoral behavior such as polygamy and pre-marital sex.
Others, such as Alaska's other sitting senator, say disqualifying gay couples from equal rights is immoral.
"I've been already on the record on this issue for some time, and I don't believe in discrimination of any kind; it's good that she sees it the same way," said Sen. Mark Begich.
While the battle lines have been drawn in light of Murkowski's announcement, Steph Figarelle says she knows the outcome.
"It's inevitable that we will get equal rights -- it will happen," Figarelle said. "Whether it happens next year, whatever, it will happen, so I think it's just people are kind of losing the fight."
A poll of 1,129 people taken by Public Policy Polling in February shows 51 percent of Alaskans say same-sex marriage should not be allowed in Alaska, with 43 percent saying it should be and 6 percent undecided. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percent.
Contact Adam Pinsker
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Alaskans Embrace, Criticize Murkowski Same-Sex Marriage Stance
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