Election 2016: Where Do We Stand?
With the 2016 Presidential Election rapidly approaching it is important that the public is able to see the candidates’ views on all subjects. For the most part the issue of same-sex marriage has fallen along partisan lines: the Democrats support it and the Republicans oppose it; however, with times constantly changing there is plenty of room for variation. The issue of same-sex marriage is constantly changing from state-to-state and individual-to-individual.
Here is a snapshot of the 2016 Presidential Candidates’ views on same-sex marriage and other LGBTQ rights:
Opposing
Donald Trump
Trump has consistently opposed the idea of same-sex marriage; however he has been in support of protecting LGBTQQ members from discrimination in the workplace. Trump has been quoted saying that he would like to see sexual orientation added to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Trump’s views on President Obama’s executive order, adoption, ending of conversion therapy, and anti-bullying remain unclear.
Harmful Rhetoric: Trump said that Pat Buchanan’s anti-LGBTQ rhetoric was disgusting, and he said that LGBTQ groups were glad he was hosting the Miss Universe pageant in Russia to challenge the status quo. But he launched ad hominem attacks on Ariana Huffington and Bette Midler, and he defended a CEO who resigned after opposing Proposition 8 and an NFL player who criticized Michael Sam
Carly Fiorina
In her brief time running for public office, Fiorina has made it clear that she opposes all LGBTQQ equality and has gained support from anti-LGBTQQ organizations. While she has said that Hewlett-Packard (HP) granted same-sex partners benefits for years, she has opposed non-discrimination protections as a candidate. She opposed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would give LGBTQ workers express federal protections from employment discrimination. Fiorina’s views on President Obama’s executive order, adoption, ending of conversion therapy, and anti-bullying remain unclear.
Harmful Rhetoric: Said that she found nothing “objectionable” about Indiana’s religious refusal bill that puts LGBTQ people at risk for discrimination.
Marco Rubio
Senator Rubio has consistently been against the equal treatment of LGBTQQ members. He strongly opposes same-sex marriage and anti-discrimination acts. Rubio voted against ENDA and even praised Speaker John Boehner for using taxpayers’ dollars to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Rubio opposes all LGBTQQ issues including President Obama’s Executive Order, adoption, and the ending of conversion therapy. His stance on anti-bullying remains unclear.
Harmful Rhetoric: Rubio has recorded robo-calls for the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), which named him a “real marriage” champion. He has helped raised money for the Florida Family Policy Council, whose leader said that being gay is an “artificial, social construct” that is “dangerous.”
Ben Carson
Carson has said that he does not believe marriage equality is a civil right. He has stated that marriage equality is inconsistent with his religious beliefs, and believes that Congress should fire judges who rule in favor of it. He also supported Alabama judges who defied a ruling that granted residents access to same-sex marriage. Carson defended Gov. Pence’s “right to discriminate” law. Carson opposes all LGBTQQ issues including adoption, and the ending of conversion therapy. His stance on President Obama’s Executive Order and anti-bullying remains unclear.
Harmful Rhetoric: Carson said that supporters of same-sex marriage are intolerant. He also compared same-sex marriage to bestiality and The North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) and suggested that same-sex marriage would lead to an “open season” on Christians.
Jeb Bush
As governor of Florida, Jeb Bush has consistently opposed same-sex marriage. While he now states that he is in favor of anti-discrimination policies, Bush has been known to suggest that his employees “stay closeted” and will not disclose his stance on ENDA. He has remained neutral on the issue of adoption since the approval of adoption by the court system. Bush does support anti-bullying and has developed a commission to combat bullying. His views on conversion therapy remain unclear.
Harmful Rhetoric: Bush called marriage and partner benefits for LGBTQ Americans “special rights” as opposed to natural and inalienable rights.
Ted Cruz
Whether the issue is marriage or protection from discrimination, Senator Cruz has consistently opposed equality for LGBTQ Americans. And he’s gone even further, attacking fellow Republicans for marching in pride parades, and using his opposition to marriage to win his first Senate campaign. Senator Cruz opposes all LGBTQ issues but remains unclear on adoption and anti-bullying.
Harmful Rhetoric: Cruz has no problem about using equality as a wedge issue against fellow Republicans – he’s attacked Republicans for appearing in pride parades and suggested that he believes being gay is a “choice.” He even bragged about intervening in a case to stop a civil union.
Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee has been a staunch opponent of LGBTQ equality, dating back to when he first burst onto the public scene in the 1990s and declared that “we should isolate the carriers” of HIV and that HIV/AIDS research received “an unfair share of federal dollars.” Huckabee has since tried to walk those comments back, but he’s maintained opposition to LGBTQ equality on every issue that has come before him. Huckabee opposes LGBTQ issues on all fronts.
Hateful Rhetoric: In opposing marriage equality, Huckabee said in 2010, “We can get into the ick factor, but the fact is two men in a relationship, two women in a relationship, biologically, that doesn’t work the same.”
Rand Paul
While Rand Paul has recently suggested that his party become more accepting of LGBTQ members, his record as a senator says the opposite. Historically Paul has opposed same-sex marriage but has changed his viewpoint to express that the issue of marriage should be left up to the states, “even if that means “New York State may have gay marriage, but Alabama not.” Paul opposes most LGBTQ rights with his views on adoption, anti-bullying, and conversion therapy unclear.
Harmful Rhetoric: Paul joked that President Obama’s views on marriage couldn’t “get any gayer” and then suggested that marriage equality would lead to people marrying non-human objects.
Chris Christie
As governor, Christie has drawn a consistent line opposing marriage equality. He vetoed a bill that would have allowed same-sex marriages to proceed in New Jersey, and even after a court ruling allowed same-sex marriages, said he opposed marriage equality –Christie favors civil unions for LGBT couples instead. Christie has stated he stopped defending New Jersey’s same-sex marriage ban because “when you know you have been defeated, you don’t bang your head against the wall anymore and spend taxpayer money to do it.” Nevertheless, same-sex marriage became legal in New Jersey under Chris Christie’s watch. Governor Christie supports all LGBTQ rights accept for marriage equality.
Harmful Rhetoric: Gov. Christie has very little to say negatively about LGBTQ individuals outside of his views on same-sex marriage. Unlike many of the other members of the Republican Party, Gov. Christie believes that LGBTQ individuals are “born that way.”
John Kasich
During his time in Congress and as Governor of Ohio, John Kasich has opposed marriage equality, basic domestic and partner benefits for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) couples. His record on non-discrimination is decidedly mixed. Kasich voted against efforts to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. As Governor of Ohio, he signed an executive order banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for state employees, but it was weaker than the previous executive order signed by his predecessor because it omitted protections for gender identity. Kasich’s views on bullying, conversion therapy, and President Obama’s Executive Order remain unclear.
Harmful Rhetoric: Said he was “amazed” that California schools would want to recognize the contributions of the LGBT community in history textbooks.
Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum has opposed LGBT equality for nearly his entire career, beginning with his campaign for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania. But he’s gone even further, saying he wants to “turn back the clock” on same-sex marriage. Santorum has even gone so far as to campaign against Iowa Supreme Court Judges who ruled in favor of marriage equality. Santorum opposes LGBTQ rights on all fronts.
Harmful Rhetoric: Defended the homophobic comments made by a Duck Dynasty cast member, and bragged he was the first politician to do so.
Supporting
Bernie Sanders
Senator Sanders has been a longtime supporter of LGBT rights. In 1983, during his first term as Mayor of Burlington, Sen. Sanders supported the city’s first ever Pride Parade. He later signed a city ordinance banning housing discrimination. When he served in the House of Representatives, then-Congressman Sanders voted against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 1993 and the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” in 1996. Sen. Sanders hailed the landmark Supreme Court decisions in 2013 and 2015 which struck down DOMA and recognized same-sex marriage is a right in all 50 states, calling the decisions a “victory for same-sex couples across our country as well as all those seeking to live in a nation where every citizen is afforded equal rights.”
Hilary Clinton
In the U.S. Senate, Hillary championed hate crime legislation, fought for federal non-discrimination legislation to protect LGBT Americans in the workplace, and advocated for an end to restrictions that blocked LGBT Americans from adopting children. As secretary of state, Hillary advanced LGBT rights abroad and enforced stronger anti-discrimination regulations within the State Department, declaring on the global stage that “gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights.” She led the effort to pass the first-ever U.N. Resolution on LGBT Human Rights, launched the Global Equality Fund, ended State Department regulations that denied same-sex couples and their families equal rights, helped implement LGBT-friendly workplace policies, and updated the State Department’s policy so that transgender individuals’ passports reflect their true gender.
Martin O’Malley
O'Malley voiced his support for a bill considered by the General Assembly to legalize
same-sex marriage in Maryland. O'Malley, a Catholic, was urged by the Archbishop of Baltimore Edwin O'Brien not to support the bill in a private letter sent two days before O'Malley voiced his support. "I am well aware that the recent events in New York have intensified pressure on you to lend your active support to legislation to redefine marriage," O'Brien wrote. "As advocates for the truths we are compelled to uphold, we speak with equal intensity and urgency in opposition to your promoting a goal that so deeply conflicts with your faith, not to mention the best interests of our society." O'Malley responded, "I do not presume, nor would I ever presume as Governor, to question or infringe upon your freedom to define, to preach about, and to administer the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. But on the public issue of granting equal civil marital rights to same-sex couples, you and I disagree." The Maryland House of Delegates approved the bill by a 72–67 vote on February 17, and the Maryland Senate approved the bill by a vote of 25–22 on February 23. The bill was amended to take effect on January 1, 2013, allowing for a voter referendum. O'Malley signed the bill on March 1, 2012. After signature, referendum petitioners gathered the support required to challenge the law. Referendum Question 6 in support of same-sex marriage was passed by 52.4% of the state's voters on November 6, 2012.
When voting in the upcoming election please keep in mind the rights of not only yourselves but your fellow Americans as well! All information for this article was gathered from the Human Rights Campaign and the campaign sites of the candidates.
