Washington (CNN) -- The gay Oregon man who helped overturn the state's decade-old ban on same-sex marriage is featured in a campaign ad for a Republican Senate candidate -- and he now finds himself on the receiving end of some criticism from LGBT activists. Ben West and his husband, Paul Rummell, became high-profile figures in Oregon's gay rights community this year when they challenged the state's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage and won. Now West is backing Monica Wehby, the Republican nominee and same-sex marriage supporter who's challenging Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democratic incumbent with a long record of fighting for LGBT rights.
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Republican Monica Wehby is running for the U.S. Senate in Oregon
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She was endorsed by a prominent gay rights activist
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The activist and Wehby are featured in a new campaign
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Experts say it was a bold move for a Republican running for Senate
While many of @placeholder's friends and acquaintances have been respectful and even happy with his decision, he said, some have been "shocked."