newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The eldest of George W. Bush's twin daughters doesn't share the former president's opinions on the subject of gay marriage. Barbara Bush has backed a campaign for legalization of same-sex marriage in New York, and appears in a new video offering her support.

"I'm Barbara Bush and I'm a New Yorker for marriage equality. New York is about fairness and equality and everyone should have the right to marry the person that they love. Join us," Bush, 29, says in the video commercial.

The Los Angeles Times reported that in May, former First Lady Laura Bush went on "Larry King Live" and explained that she, unlike her husband, believes in same-sex marriages and abortion rights.

According to foxnews.com, Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender group that produced the video, says Bush's advocacy shows "equality knows no party label."

Barbara Bush rarely speaks out on American political issues. But for years, those close to Bush say, she has surrounded herself with gay friends — at Yale, where she was an undergraduate, and in New York City, where she worked in the design world.

C. Brian Smith, a friend from college who is gay, recalled that the Yale Bush attended was filled with openly gay students and unbothered by questions about sexuality.

After graduating from Yale, she launched the Global Health Corps to get students to go to cities in the United States and overseas for one year to help with health issues.

In the past other Republican women have taken stances in opposition to their famous male relatives. Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain opposes same-sex marriage, but his wife, Cindy, and daughter, Meghan, also have done public service announcements for the "No H8" campaign and supported repeal of the don't ask, don't tell rule against gays openly serving in the military.

The New York Times reports Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, has forcefully backed it as well — and is widely credited with helping to persuade her father to do the same.

But the Bush family didn't appear willing to approach the subject. Barbara Bush declined an interview request. A spokesman for George W. Bush said he had no comment. Barbara Bush's sister, Jenna Bush Hager, a correspondent for "Today," has not publicly discussed the topic.