OLYMPIA, WA – Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich met with Washington State lawmakers last week and said that although that he personally disagrees with marriage equality, he believes that those states that have legalized it legislatively are “doing it the right way.” On Friday, Feb. 24, Gingrich, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, met with legislators in the Evergreen State, where gay marriage was passed by lawmakers last month. Maryland’s Senate and House of Delegates also approved marriage equality last month.

“I think at least they’re doing it the right way, which is going through voters, giving them a chance to vote and not having a handful of judges arbitrarily impose their will,” Gingrich said of Washington State and Maryland lawmakers. “I don’t agree with it. I would vote ‘no’ if it were on a referendum where I was, but at least they’re doing it the right way.”