Alabama Representative Patricia Todd is enjoying her new celebrity status – for the most part.

Todd, Alabama’s lone openly gay state representative, made national headlines last week when she said she would bring the topic of marital infidelity into discussions of “family values” when the legislature convenes in Montgomery. Alabama, a staunchly socially conservative Southern state, is finally coming to grips with gay life after a federal judge struck down its ban on same-sex marriage.

“I think I got my point across,” said Todd in a telephone interview with SFGN.

Todd, 59, said she would not name names because “obviously, I’m not involved in these relationships” but felt compelled to stand up for gay and lesbian families in Alabama.

“They need to be careful when they cast that stone,” Todd said. “No family is perfect, but straight families do not have the market cornered on family values.”

Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard blasted U.S. Judge Ginny Granade’s decision to overturn the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Hubbard, a Republican from Auburn, said “the Legislature will encourage a vigorous appeals process, and we will continue defending the Christian conservative values that make Alabama a special place to live.”

Todd, a Democrat who represents downtown Birmingham in the legislature, said she has received thousands of friend requests on Facebook since taking her public stand. Most responses she has received have been positive although, sadly, she has received death threats.

“Somebody sent me a message that I should rot in hell,” she said.