Yesterday, out-of-touch Republican Clay Cope announced the endorsement of State Senator Kevin Witkos, claiming that Witkos has a “long and enviable record” as a legislator. And while Cope has refused to answer where he stands on important social issues like marriage equality, Senator Witkos has made his views abundantly clear, voting in lock step with the anti-choice, anti-marriage equality Family Institute of Connecticut (FIC), which endorsed his Senate candidacy in 2008.

• In 2009, Witkos was one of seven senators to vote against marriage equality in Connecticut.
• In 2011, Witkos sponsored a bill backed by FIC to allow parents to opt their children out of sex ed classes.
• In 2011, Witkos voted against legislation to prohibit discrimination against transgender individuals.
• And in 2007, as a member of the House, Witkos voted against a bill to provide emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault. Seriously.

“Kevin Witkos has a long and distinguished record of voting for anti-LGBTQ, anti-woman legislation. Like the extreme Family Institute of Connecticut, he opposes marriage equality and supports the right to discriminate. And while Mr. Cope has steadfastly refused to elaborate about his views on any social issues – including GOP frontrunner Donald Trump’s claim that women should be ‘punished’ for having an abortion – his full-throated acceptance of Witkos’s endorsement yields the question: Does he agree with Kevin Witkos and the Family Institute of Connecticut, or does he side with the LGBTQ community in the 5th District?” – Connecticut Democratic Party spokesman Leigh Appleby