Dick Cheney and Lynne Referee Gay Marriage Spat Between Liz and Mary Former Vice President Dick Cheney and wife Lynne Cheney tried to turn down the temperature Monday in the ongoing spat between their daughter Liz, a Republican Senate candidate opposed to same-sex marriage, and their other daughter Mary, who is openly gay and married. But the elder Cheneys also seemed to defend Liz Cheney in the very public feud. "Liz has always believed in the traditional definition of marriage," the Cheney parents said in a statement after Liz and Mary had a public blow-up over the issue this weekend on Facebook. She has also always treated her sister and her sister's family with love and respect, exactly as she should have done. Compassion is called for, even when there is disagreement about such a fundamental matter and Liz's many kindnesses shouldn't be used to distort her position. The Cheney sisters have been involved in a high-profile row after Liz reiterated on Fox News Sunday that she does not believe in same-sex marriage and disagreed with her gay sister Mary's decision to marry her wife. "Liz - this isn't just an issue on which we disagree," Mary said on Facebook. You're just wrong - and on the wrong side of history. Liz Cheney, running for Senate in Wyoming has been under fire from conservatives in that race who say she hasn't been strong enough in her opposition to gay marriage.