WATCH: Kevin McCarthy Fumbles When Asked About Same-Sex Marriage

Over six years after the Supreme Court ruled that laws preventing same-sex couples from getting married violate the U.S. Constitution’s promise of equal rights, LGBT rights are still highly polarized in politics. Many far-right groups are still extremely opposed to marriage equality.

At the same time, support for equal access to marriage and the legal benefits and recognition bestowed with it is growing, even among Republicans — according to NPR, a poll earlier this year found 55% of Republican voters (73% of Independents, and 83% of Democrats) currently support the right of same-sex couples to wed.

On Thursday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy seemed to struggle with how to give an answer that would maintain the support of both sets of voters.

"Same-sex marriage is the law of the land and it's uhh … I support the law of the land."

— House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy when asked if he still opposes same-sex marriage pic.twitter.com/uUrCurELsF

— The Recount (@therecount) September 30, 2021

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In the clip above, McCarthy stumbles over his words and appears to grow frustrated as he answers a reporter who has asked him about supporting marriage equality.

“Look, same-sex marriage is the law of the land, and it’s what America holds, and that’s the law of the land. There’s no difference. That’s the law of the land! I support the law of the land! I don’t see how that’s different. I don’t see how that’s news!”

This follows Liz Cheney’s statement that she was wrong to oppose marriage equality. McCarthy would not go so far as to say he was wrong, although he has opposed gay rights measures since. NBC reported in 2016 that during a vote on an anti-discrimination bill to protect LGBT employees, he was described as “personally twisting arms on the House floor” as the vote was held open to defeat the measure.