WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said she would defend gay rights as president and eliminate disparities for same-sex couples in federal law, including immigration and tax policy.
Clinton said states such as New Jersey and Massachusetts are extending rights to gay couples "and the federal government should recognize that and should extend the same access to federal benefits across the board. I will very much work to achieve that."
Clinton's comments came in an interview with the Philadelphia Gay News that was posted on its Web site Thursday.
Clinton said she and her husband have many gay friends that they socialize with when they get the chance. "I've got friends, literally, around the country that I'm close to. It's part of my life," she said.
She said that when they ask her why they can't get married, she tells them marriage is a state law. She said that fact helped defeat a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex weddings that she said would "enshrine discrimination in the Constitution."
"States are really beginning seriously to deal with the whole range of options, including marriage, both under their own state constitutions and under the legislative approach," she said. "I anticipate that there will be a very concerted amount of effort in the next couple of years that will move this important issue forward and different states will take different approaches as they did with marriage over many years and you will see an evolution over time."
Clinton said she opposes a measure that would ban gay marriage in Pennsylvania.
"I would be very distressed if Pennsylvania were to adopt that kind of mean-spirited referendum and I hope it won't happen," she said.
Clinton's Democratic rival Barack Obama and Republican John McCain declined the newspaper's invitation for an interview. The paper criticized Obama and highlighted his refusal to talk by leaving a blank space on the front page where his interview would have appeared.
Clinton also said she would:
• Eliminate her husband's policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" that prevents gays from serving openly in the military. Asked if she could do so by a signing order connected to a military appropriations bill, Clinton said she didn't think that is possible but she would look into it and do it if it were legal.
• Be "very strongly outspoken" against foreign governments that execute gays and use financial assistance and other leverage to prevent the killings.
• Support federal domestic partner legislation to extend rights to all same-sex couples.
• Support services for gay youth, including guidance for schools about the discrimination they face.
• Continue to support gay pride celebrations, to the extent that security would allow. "I don't think the Secret Service let Bill walk in a parade when he became president," she said.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments
<<Do the math. Look at the number of homosexuals in states like Mass that were "once" married. The divorce rate is a lot higher than people think. I thought homosexuals were going to show the world how committed they were to each other. But it's not really about that...is it?>>
What has that got to do with this article about Hilary Clinton supporting Gay Marriage.
summathetes did you happen to read this? The Barna Group found in its latest study that born again Christians who are not evangelical were indistinguishable from the national average on the matter of divorce with 33 percent having married and divorced at least once. Among all born again Christians, which includes evangelicals, the divorce figure is 32 percent, which is statistically identical to the 33 percent figure among non-born again adults, the research group noted.
The CHRISTIAN POST is running this information, here http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080404/31815_Study%3A_Christian_Divorce_Rate_Identical_to_National_Average.htm
Wow! How can people think this is okay?
Well let me see. How many of us go on a antipagan rally? God is against all those that have other gods before Him. How many of us commit sin of any type? God is against sin. How many of us keep company with sinners now that we are saved?
Does this surprise anyone? it shouldn't. She's saying these things to a gay newspaper. If you sat her down with "The Christian Post" she'd talk about how her faith has guided her life, her values, her _______. She'd tell you how you loves Jesus and how Jesus is the most important figure to ever walk the planet, and how he's radically affected her life, yada, yada, yada.
Stick her in a rally in Michigan (sound familiar) with pro-union forces and a lot of folks out of jobs (Pennsylvania anyone) and she'll spout off about how she the "Economic Messiah" here to save all of us from ourselves, and everyone deserves a free handout from Uncle Sam. Nevermind that she's getting her funding from "Fantasyland".
Hitlery will tell you whatever you want to hear to your face, but she'll do whatever she wants to do behind your back. All I can say is that I could never, in good conscience cast a ballot for this woman, or anyone else named Clinton. The Clinton's are like cancer. Once you find out you have it you have to destroy it before it destroys you.
But, as a good friend of my father says, "We have the government WE deserve."
Wow! How can people think this is okay? We live in a world that tolerates everything, but christianity! Homosexuality is wonderful and welcomed, but christianity is unexceptable. I think that, that is unexceptable! READ THE BIBLE!
"As for celebrating sin- come on let's use some common sense, what is next? Parades for adultery, murder, lying, stealing, etc..."
That is such ill-spirited thinking. First of all, celebrating sin? Living as an openly-gay individual - areligious to anyone elses' concern- is certainly not celebration. If you are concerned for their salvation, then pray for them. But to compare their lifestyle, simple lifestyle, as a celebration that precedes 'parades' for hideous crimes of adultery and murder... is exacly what Clinton says when she is against people with support "mean-spirited referendums"
What's this,trapped? no; it's a choice,just like being saved or not! heaven and hell are the choices,we have to make just like our lifestyle.In the KJV bible LEVITICUS ch.18 vs.22 and ch.20 vs.13 homosexuality is a sin.As well as lying,but Clinton just like Obama is ok with that to.Is this who we want to lead us?IN JESUS NAME
Bravo Clinton
• Be "very strongly outspoken" against foreign governments that execute gays and use financial assistance and other leverage to prevent the killings.....duh?.....
I will say no no and then pay you a lot of money to stop or offer christians as an alternative...
other leverage hmm what would that be? threaghten to send her husband over to atlk with them? I'm sorry that was low brow.
At a time when numerous judges still need to be appointed the most obvious candidate for Evangelicals is McCain, like it or lump it. No third party has a chance beating either Obama or Clinton. The choice seems elementary my dear Watson. . . .
right we are all voting for gradeschoolers when it comes to who's going to be president.....don't call me watson
All Homosexuals have the same rights as heterosexuals. Heterosexuals can't marry whoever or whatever they want. Homosexuals are vying for special rights and "marriage" is just a stepping stone to get insurance and life benefits.
Do the math. Look at the number of homosexuals in states like Mass that were "once" married. The divorce rate is a lot higher than people think. I thought homosexuals were going to show the world how committed they were to each other. But it's not really about that...is it?
it dumbfounds me how these so called politicians who are suppose to be educated people who also claim a church membership somewhere could spite their own faces by willingly committing themselves to support immorality. Maybe I really shouldn't be surprised at all. The depravation of the mind is not bias as long as it can lead more people to hell.
"Clinton said she would defend gay rights..." Hey, imagine that. There's a real news bulletin.
What's more troubling to me is her desire to rescind "Don't ask, don't tell." Remember the last president we had with ZERO military experience? Yes, it was Bill Clinton, who as a draft-dodger and anti-military president left the US Armed Forces in the most dilapidated and demoralized condition of any administration since Vietnam ended.
With all the pressing concerns we have in the military now, DO YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO TAKE UP WITH OUR MILITARY THAN "HOW ARE WE TREATING THE GAYS??" Can we afford a president like this right now?
"Clinton said she would defend gay rights..."
How could anyone have doubted?
And to think that Obama is more liberal than Hillary.
At a time when numerous judges still need to be appointed the most obvious candidate for Evangelicals is McCain, like it or lump it. No third party has a chance beating either Obama or Clinton. The choice seems elementary my dear Watson.
If the democrats gain control, I simply ask that you make sure additional exemptions are carved out in "homosexual rights" laws. For example in Iowa there is the "non-discrimination law" that was added for sexual orientation and gender idenity. However, no exemptions were given to faith based groups not affilaited with a denomination and no exemptions for faith based non-profit 501c3 and 501c4 groups. Only exemptions for "bona-fide" religious institutions (usually schools and churches specifically).
Under the current law, many faith based groups are not allowed to practice their faith and are forced to hire an individual in a religious position even when that person disagrees with the faith statement of that group.
Further exemptions are needed.
I feel strongly against anyone being assaulted/killed for their belief's- that is just wrong.
As for celebrating sin- come on let's use some common sense, what is next? Parades for adultery, murder, lying, stealing, etc... Homosexuality is a willfull conscious decision to sin for one's own gratification, just like adultery and lust are ,to believe otherwise is to deceive yourself there is no "gay" gene or" murder/theft/lust/lying " gene's. All is sin and requires repentance for- I welcome all rebuttals that don't contain juvenille name calling - just the facts according to scripture if you will, thank you. IN JESUS NAME.
another reason NOT to vote for Hillary Clinton