Scott Walker's wife and sons disagree with him on same-sex marriage

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker drew criticism last week for his strident response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized same-sex marriage – which he called a “grave mistake.”

The Republican’s wife and two adult sons didn’t even agree with his stance, reported the Washington Post.

Tonette Walker said she heard immediately from the couple’s two sons, Matt and Alex, who are taking time off from college to take part in their father’s presidential campaign, which he will officially announce July 13.

“That was a hard one,” Tonette Walker said. “Our sons were disappointed (and) I was torn. I have children who are very passionate [in favor of same-sex marriage], and Scott was on his side very passionate.”

The governor’s wife said she and her sons support marriage equality for family reasons.

“It’s hard for me because I have a cousin who I love dearly — she is like a sister to me — who is married to a woman, her partner of 18 years,” she said.

Alex Walker served as best man at the couple’s wedding last year, she said, and friends told the newspaper that they have vacationed and hosted parties with the governor’s family.

Walker softened his criticism of the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling just one day later, at a conservative event in Colorado that his wife also attended.

“We should respect the opinions of others in America, but that in return means that they not only respect our opinions -- they respect what is written in the Constitution,” the governor said.

Tonette Walker, born into a family of Catholic Democrats, said she and her husband did not always agree politically.

“But most of the time things work out a lot better than I think they will,” she said.