Patricia Todd Is Alabama's Coolest Politician

Not quite known for their progressive values or liberal policies, many Alabama lawmakers threw a fit when the Supreme Court struck down the state's same-sex marriage ban last week, railing against the disintegration of the sanctity of marriage. But one indomitable woman, State Rep. Patricia Todd, the only openly gay Alabama politician, threatened to reveal her colleagues' affairs if they didn't end the hypocritical criticism of the federal court's decision while having extramarital affairs themselves.

On a Facebook post over the weekend, Todd wrote:

This (is) a time where you find out who are accepting, loving people. To say I am disappointed in Speaker [Mike] 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.

The Democrat lawmaker was referencing House Speaker Hubbard's comments following the federal judge's decision. Hubbard railed against the ruling, saying in a statement:

It is outrageous when a single unelected and unaccountable federal judge can overturn the will of millions of Alabamians who stand in firm support of the Sanctity of Marriage Act. The Legislature will encourage a vigorous appeals process, and we will continue defending the Christian conservative values that make Alabama a special place to live.

Todd, in her statement, also criticized efforts to repeal the ban. Already, the federal judge put a two-week hold on the ruling so as to review the appeal against it. Frustrated by her colleagues' anti-gay rhetoric following Friday's ruling, Todd took to the Facebook to call out their flaming hypocrisy. She wrote:

If certain people come out and start espousing this rhetoric about family values, then I will say, "Let's talk about family values, because here's what I heard." I don't have direct knowledge, because obviously I'm not the other person involved in the affair... One thing I'm pretty consistent on is I do not like hypocrites. If you can explain your position and you hold yourself to the same standard you want to hold me to, then fine. But you cannot go out there and smear my community by condemning us and somehow making us feel less than, and expect me to be quiet.

Todd has been a singularly strong advocate of LGBT rights in the conservative state, worked to repeal Alabama's constitutional ban on gay marriage. State residents had voted, in 2006, to pass a constitutional amendment that would declare marriage between a man and woman. But the Times Daily reported that Todd said sentiment has changed greatly in eight years, and this year will attempt to carry legislation providing protection to LGBT state employees and teachers from discrimination in the workplace.

Image: Patricia Todd/Facebook