Clay Cope is running for Congress in Connecticut with an unusual profile: he’s a Catholic convert, he’s for fiscal frugality, and he’s a gay former Texan via Manhattan weekender.

He sounds like a really nice guy. Really nice. But when asked a basic question — is he willing to support the First Amendment Defense Act which would prevent the federal government from discriminating against people and organizations that define marriage in the traditional way, not Anthony Kennedy’s way? — Cope had literally nothing to say:

“It’s just not one I’m ready to answer tonight,” Cope said. “That’s the truth.”

As The Connecticut Mirror notes, “GOP presidential candidates Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina signed a pledge to push for passage their first 100 days as president. Trump didn’t sign, but a conservative web site posted a letter from Trump saying he would be supportive if Congress deemed it a priority.”

Peter Wolfgang, head of the Connecticut Family Institute, is right in saying FADA is a big opportunity for a gay conservative in Connecticut: “As a gay man himself he has the potential of a Nixon-goes-to-China by supporting the religious liberty of dissenters on an issue that has so polarized politics. He has the potential to bridge the chasm,” said Wolfgang, who has met with Cope.

Will Cope stand up for gay marriage dissenters?

Maggie Gallagher is a senior fellow at the American Principles Project and can be followed on Twitter @MaggieGallaghe.