Do you support letting everyone marry the person they love? Then you’re not extreme enough for the MNGOP.

Republican State Rep. David FitzSimmons was one of four Republican House members who broke with their party to do the right thing and vote in favor of allowing all couples to marry the person they love.

How does the MNGOP repay him for taking a stand and doing what’s right? Rep. FitzSimmons lost the GOP endorsement for his House seat, after which he announced he has decided not to run for reelection. One of the other three Republican House members who voted for the same-sex marriage bill has also decided not to run for reelection.

Rep. FitzSimmons stands by his decision, telling the Pioneer Press:

“I made a decision and I stand by it. If the cost of that is not being in the Legislature, then I will live with that cost.”

MinnPost also writes:

“Absolutely not” was FitzSimmons’ response to a question about whether he would have changed his gay marriage vote if he knew it would cost him a legislative seat.

Recent news stories describe Rep. FitzSimmons as a “longtime GOP activist,” “reliably conservative,” and “one of the most conservative members of the legislature.” But as Rep. FitzSimmons found out, if you’re not with the MNGOP 100%, you’re not with the MNGOP at all.

What does it say about the MNGOP when they kick their most conservative legislator out of office for breaking with the party on one vote when he felt he was doing the right thing?

Clearly someone needs to tell the MNGOP that they should be embracing folks like Rep. FitzSimmons who are willing to reach across the aisle and break with their party when they feel like it’s the right thing to do. Right now, the MNGOP is doing the opposite: endorsing (and potentially electing) ultra-extreme legislative candidates whose sole focus is denying same-sex couples the ability to declare their love and commitment for their partners in front of their friends and family. Shame on them.