On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark decision in favor of marriage equality. While millions of Americans are celebrating today’s victory, Republican presidential hopefuls are fighting against the currents of progress, desperately fear mongering and continuing to use marriage equality to divide us.
Hillary Clinton proudly celebrated this step forward for our country. As Hillary said today, our nation is at its best when we are “inclusive, open, and striving towards true equality.” Now is the time to celebrate a hard-fought victory for marriage equality and gay and lesbian couples across the country.
The GOP on Marriage Equality
Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush: “I believe in traditional marriage.” “Guided by my faith, I believe in traditional marriage. I believe the Supreme Court should have allowed the states to make this decision. I also believe that we should love our neighbor and respect others, including those making lifetime commitments. In a country as diverse as ours, good people who have opposing views should be able to live side by side. It is now crucial that as a country we protect religious freedom and the right of conscience and also not discriminate.” [Jeb Bush campaign, 6/26/15]
Jeb Bush “rejected” the characterization that he was a “gay-friendly Republican.” “If Bush runs for president, some of his closest aides will be individuals who are strong public supporters of legalizing same-sex marriage. The hires, reported BuzzFeed, led to some chatter among Republicans that Bush could position himself as ‘the gay-friendly Republican in the 2016 field.’ Bush, however, rejected that characterization Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference during his conversation with Fox News host Sean Hannity. ‘No. I believe in traditional marriage,’ said Bush when Hannity asked him whether he’s changing his position on the issue.” [Huffington Post, 2/27/15]
Jeb Bush considered supporting an amendment to the Florida constitution banning same-sex marriage. “Gov. Jeb Bush said Friday night he’s moving away from a longstanding position that there’s no need for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages. At a fundraiser for the Florida Family Policy Council, a conservative group that backs such a ban, Bush said courts in other states overturning laws banning gay marriages have led him to the conclusion that a change to the Florida Constitution might be necessary. ‘We may be at that point in our state,’ he said.” [Orlando Sentinel, 5/20/06]
Jeb Bush: “Traditional marriage is what should be sanctioned.” “Of course, he also looked to Obama for leadership and pointed out the obvious, that it’s a wedge issue that helps Democrats, so it’s politically easier to demonize the GOP on immigration than to try to come to a compromise and fix the system. On same-sex marriage, Bush didn’t hide from his conservative belief that ‘traditional marriage is what should be sanctioned,’ but ‘not at the expense of discriminating other forms of family structure.’” [Miami Herald, 6/9/12]
Ben Carson
Ben Carson said that “marriage is between a man and a woman” and compared supporters of marriage equality to “people who believe in bestiality.” “In response to a question by Sean Hannity about his views on gay marriage, Ben Carson said, ‘Well, my thoughts are that marriage is between a man and a woman. It’s a well-established, fundamental pillar of society and no group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality. It doesn’t matter what they are. They don’t get to change the definition.’” [Slate, 3/28/13]
Chris Christie
Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in New Jersey. “Same-sex marriage proponents were dealt a setback Friday, though not an unexpected one, when Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would let gay couples marry. Roughly six hours after the bill arrived at his desk, Christie issued a conditional veto, asking lawmakers to instead ‘create a strong ombudsman for civil unions to carry on New Jersey’s strong tradition of tolerance and fairness.’ The Republican governor had long promised a veto. He said changes to the marriage law should be done only if approved by voters through a statewide vote, not through an act by lawmakers.” [Asbury Park Press, 2/17/12]
Chris Christie waged a losing legal battle to block marriage equality in New Jersey. “Christie dropped a legal fight to block same-sex marriage in New Jersey in 2013 after the State Supreme Court indicated it would not stop the unions, saying now: ‘Yeah, it is a settled issue in New Jersey.’ ‘When I know that I’ve been defeated you don’t bang your head against a wall and spend taxpayer money to do it,’ he said, explaining his decision. ‘Absent a change in the legislature, I think at the moment it’s settled law in New Jersey.’” [TIME, 7/12/14]
Chris Christie said New Jersey had settled on the gay marriage issue, but the majority of the country had not. “Christie said that same-sex marriage ‘is a settled issue’ in New Jersey but that the rest of the country would resolve it in time. ‘Do I think it’s resolved now? No,’ he said. ‘The overwhelming majority of states in the country still ban same-sex marriage, so I don’t think it’s time to stop having a discussion.’” [Associated Press,7/12/14]
Christie said the country should continue to debate gay marriage. “Christie said that same-sex marriage ‘is a settled issue’ in New Jersey but that the rest of the country would resolve it in time. ‘Do I think it’s resolved now? No,’ he said. ‘The overwhelming majority of states in the country still ban same-sex marriage, so I don’t think it’s time to stop having a discussion.’” [Associated Press, 7/12/14]
Chris Christie said he would not change his mind on same-sex marriage even if one of his children was gay. “Christie and Buono also clashed on marriage equality. Asked how he would react if any of his children told him they were gay, Christie maintained his opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage. ‘If my children came to me and said they were gay I would grab them and hug them and tell them I love them,’ Christie said. ‘I would also tell them that your dad believes that marriage is between one man and one woman.’” [Newark Star-Ledger 10/16/13]
Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz said a Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality was “naked and lawless judicial activism.” “Sen. Ted Cruz, another Republican candidate for president, warned in a speech Thursday of a deliberate attempt by Democrats to impose ‘mandatory gay marriage in all 50 states.’ ‘I would encourage everyone here to be lifting up in prayer that [the Supreme Court] not engage in an act of naked and lawless judicial activism tearing down the marriage laws adopted pursuant to the Constitution,’ Cruz said.” [RealClearPolitics, 6/19/15]
Ted Cruz “warned of the dangers of gay marriage.” “Cruz warned of the dangers of gay marriage a month after the Supreme Court decision in a July 2013 interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network. ‘If you look at other nations that have gone down the road towards gay marriage, that’s the next step where it gets enforced,’ he said. ‘It gets enforced against Christian pastors who decline to perform gay marriages, who speak out and preach biblical truths on marriage.’” [Huffington Post, 2/13/14]
Ted Cruz introduced legislation that would allow states to define marriage. “It seems Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has taken up a new cause in Congress — defending states’ right to regulate marriage. Amid a wave of court decisions striking down anti-gay marriage laws in states, the Texas Republican introduced a bill to the Senate Wednesday to amend U.S. law ‘with regard to the definition of ‘marriage’ and ‘spouse’ for Federal purposes and to ensure respect for State regulation of marriage.’” [Huffington Post, 2/13/14]
Carly Fiorina
Carly Fiorina opposed the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of marriage equality. “This is only the latest example of an activist Court ignoring its constitutional duty to say what the law is and not what the law should be. Justice Alito spoke for so many of us when he said that ‘[t]oday’s decision usurps the constitutional right of the people to decide whether to keep or alter the traditional understanding of marriage…All Americans, whatever their thinking on that issue, should worry about what the majority’s claim of power portends.’ The Court ruled today that all Americans should receive equal benefits and rights from the government under the law. I have always supported this view. However, this decision was also about the definition of marriage itself. I do not agree that the Court can or should redefine marriage. I believe that responsibility should have remained with states and voters where this conversation has continued in churches, town halls and living rooms around the country.” [Carly Fiorina statement, 6/26/15]
Carly Fiorina opposed marriage equality and supported California’s Proposition 8 referendum that banned same-sex marriage. “Carly Fiorina cited President Obama’s opposition to same-sex marriage to substantiate her belief that ‘marriage is between a man and a woman’ and moderate her support for Proposition 8: I do believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, but also have been consistent and clear that I support civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. The Defense of Marriage Act had broad bipartisan support. And actually, the position I’ve consistently espoused is consistent with that of our President and a vast majority of senators in the U.S. Senate…The voters were quite clear about their views on this [Proposition 8] and this is now going through a legal process.” [Think Progress, 9/1/10]
Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Graham: “I believe in traditional marriage.” “The piece quotes quite a few lawmakers who aren’t willing to endorse marriage equality – including alleged champions of civil liberties like Rand Paul – but my personal favorite came from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.): ‘I believe in traditional marriage – between a man and a woman, without animosity. I don’t mind if people are able to transfer their property, visit their loved ones in hospitals, but marriage to me, I’ve stayed with the concept of traditional marriage.’” [MSNBC, 3/21/13]
Lindsey Graham compared marriage equality to polygamy. “During Loretta Lynch’s confirmation hearing Wednesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) tried to take the attorney general nominee down the slippery-slope argument often made against the marriage equality movement by inquiring what the legal difference is between marriage of same-sex couples and that of three or more people. ‘What is the legal difference between a state — a ban on same-sex marriage being unconstitutional but a ban on polygamy being constitutional?’ he inquired at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. ‘Could you try to articulate how one could be banned under the Constitution and the other not?’” [Huffington Post, 1/28/15]
Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee said the Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality was an “irrational, unconstitutional…flawed, failed decision.” “The Supreme Court has spoken with a very divided voice on something only the Supreme Being can do-redefine marriage. I will not acquiesce to an imperial court any more than our Founders acquiesced to an imperial British monarch. We must resist and reject judicial tyranny, not retreat. This ruling is not about marriage equality, it’s about marriage redefinition. This irrational, unconstitutional rejection of the expressed will of the people in over 30 states will prove to be one of the court’s most disastrous decisions, and they have had many. The only outcome worse than this flawed, failed decision would be for the President and Congress, two co-equal branches of government, to surrender in the face of this out-of-control act of unconstitutional, judicial tyranny. The Supreme Court can no more repeal the laws of nature and nature’s God on marriage than it can the law of gravity. Under our Constitution, the court cannot write a law, even though some cowardly politicians will wave the white flag and accept it without realizing that they are failing their sworn duty to reject abuses from the court. If accepted by Congress and this President, this decision will be a serious blow to religious liberty, which is the heart of the First Amendment.” [Mike Huckabee statement, 6/26/15]
Mike Huckabee said the U.S. would “pay the consequences” for allowing same-sex couples to marry. “Huckabee drew a parallel between the struggle against abortion rights and the right’s battle against equality for same-sex couples. Calling straights-only marriage ‘the foundation of our society and culture,’ Huckabee warned that by allowing same-sex couples to get married, ‘we will pay the consequences for having upended the very foundation which is the essence of how a civilization survives.’ ‘So the soul of America is in real trouble,’ he concluded.” [Salon, 11/25/14]
Mike Huckabee signed onto “a pledge condemning same-sex parents and marriage equality.” “Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum are the only two Republican presidential candidates who have signed on to a pledge condemning same-sex parents and marriage equality, authored by the Texas pastor who recently promised to burn himself alive if the Supreme Court rules in favor of marriage equality, according to U.K. LGBT outlet Pink News. Republican presidential hopefuls Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum both signed on to the ever-growing ‘pledge in solidarity to defend marriage,’ which claims that ‘marriage as existing solely between one man and one woman precedes civil government.’ The pledge, first reported by The Advocate June 15, goes on to (inaccurately) claim that ‘no civil institution, including the United States Supreme Court or any court, has authority to redefine marriage.’ That’s an argument both Huckabee and Santorum have advanced with increasing frequency as the high court nears a decision that could bring marriage equality to all 50 states by the end of the month.” [The Advocate, 6/23/15]
Mike Huckabee said that as president “he would simply ignore any Supreme Court decision in favor of marriage equality.” “Yesterday, Mike Huckabee chatted with Iowa radio host Steve Deace and Religious Right organizer Bob Vander Plaats, who led Huckabee’s 2008 campaign in the first-in-the-nation caucus state, about the Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling on gay marriage. He said that if elected president, he would simply ignore any Supreme Court decision in favor of marriage equality until Congress passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide…which he would then veto. ‘Until the Congress of the United States puts on my desk a bill that basically defies the laws of Nature and Nature’s God and defies the longstanding tradition of marriage, the federal government will not recognize same-sex marriage because there is no law that requires it and that would be true for the military and it would be true for all federal institutions,’ Huckabee said. ‘If the Congress decides that they want to pass enabling legislation, they could put it on my desk and I would veto it, and they can attempt to override it. That’s the process.’” [Right Wing Watch, 6/23/15]
Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal said the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of marriage equality paved “the way for an all out assault against the religious freedom rights of Christians.” “The Supreme Court decision today conveniently and not surprisingly follows public opinion polls, and tramples on states’ rights that were once protected by the 10th Amendment of the Constitution. Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that. This decision will pave the way for an all out assault against the religious freedom rights of Christians who disagree with this decision. This ruling must not be used as pretext by Washington to erode our right to religious liberty.” [Bobby Jindal press release, 6/26/15]
Bobby Jindal said he wanted to leave “the matter of marriage to the states.” “Jindal, too, appears to be heading in the same direction. In response to the Supreme Court’s DOMA ruling last year he said, ‘I believe every child deserves a mom and a dad. This opinion leaves the matter of marriage to the states where people can decide. In Louisiana, we will opt for traditional marriage. How about we let the people decide for themselves, via their representatives and via referendum?’ The lawsuits in the U.S. District Court challenging Louisiana’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage remain in their early stages. Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., will likely appeal any court decision allowing same-sex marriage in his state. Jindal, who supported a gay marriage ban as a congressman, would likely support an appeal if the plaintiffs are successful. ‘I believe in traditional marriage,’ Jindal told U.S. News in an email. ‘I realize that public opinion on this may be changing, but unlike President [Barack] Obama and Hillary Clinton, I’m not a weather vane who ‘evolves’ with the polls.’” [US News & World Report, 7/14/14]
Bobby Jindal opposed same-sex marriage and said that states had the right to reject same-sex marriage. “During a speech in California last week, Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana defended the rights of states to reject gay marriage as a matter of faith. He calls the legal battles an assault on the freedom of religion. ‘It is a war — a silent war — but it is a war against religious liberty. This war is waged in our courts and in the halls of political power,’ Jindal says.” [NPR, 2/20/14]
John Kasich
John Kasich opposed both same-sex marriage and civil unions. “Ohio Gov. John Kasich revealed on Wednesday that he supports civil unions for same-sex couples. But don’t quote him on that. A spokesman for the Republican governor said Thursday that Kasich misspoke when he expressed support for the legal partnerships. The truth is, he doesn’t. ‘The governor’s position is unchanged,’ Kasich’s spokesman Rob Nichols said Thursday in a statement. ‘He opposes gay marriage and opposes changing Ohio’s constitution to allow for civil unions.’” [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/21/13]
Rand Paul
Rand Paul lamented the “moral crisis that allows people to think that there would be some sort of other marriage” in addition to “traditional” marriage. “At a prayer breakfast in Washington, D.C. on Thursday morning, Rand Paul practiced pandering. The senator from Kentucky will announce that he is running for president in less than two weeks, and it seems the pressure to be all things to all people is resulting in the breakdown of his political brand, with the latest example being his newly articulated position on marriage. He conceded to the evangelical crowd, which included Dr. Jerry Johnson, CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters, that there is a ‘moral crisis in our country’ and more specifically, ‘a moral crisis that allows people to think that there would be some sort of other marriage’ in addition to heterosexual, or ‘traditional,’ marriage.” [Daily Beast, 3/28/15]
Rand Paul said he believed the issue of gay marriage should be left to states; said the GOP should “agree to disagree” on the issue. “Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told ABC News he believes the Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act was appropriate, and that the issue should be left to the states. He praised Justice Anthony Kennedy for avoiding ‘a cultural war.’ ‘As a country we can agree to disagree,’ Paul said today, stopping for a moment to talk as he walked through the Capitol. ‘As a Republican Party, that’s kind of where we are as well. The party is going to have to agree to disagree on some of these issues.’ The comments from Paul, a likely GOP presidential candidate in 2016, highlight how the party’s field could divide over gay marriage. Many Republicans have been unusually muted in their reactions to the Supreme Court rulings today. Paul said he agreed with Kennedy, whom he called ‘someone who doesn’t just want to be in front of opinion but wants government to keep up with opinion.’ He said Kennedy ‘tried to strike a balance.’” [ABC News, 6/26/13]
Rand Paul: “I think marriage should be taken care of at the state level.” According to the Courier Journal, Paul stated: “I think marriage should be taken care of at the state level.” [The Courier Journal, 10/19/09]
Rick Perry
Rick Perry criticized the legal decision that declared Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. “Texas Gov. Rick Perry criticized the ruling made Wednesday by a federal judge in his state striking down the ban on same-sex marriage. ‘This is yet another attempt to achieve via the courts what couldn’t be achieved at the ballot box,’ the Republican governor said in a statement. ‘We will continue to fight for the rights of Texans to self-determine the laws of our state.’ The state’s ban on same-sex marriage was deemed unconstitutional by Judge Orlando Garcia, who will continue to allow the ban to be enforced, pending an appeal. The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by two gay couples challenging a constitutional amendment and law, according to the Associated Press.” [Politico, 2/26/14]
Rick Perry compared homosexuality to alcoholism. “Republican Texas Gov. Rick Perry reportedly compared gay people to alcoholism at an event in San Francisco on Wednesday. The moderator at the Commonwealth Club of California asked him if he considered homosexuality to be a disorder, according to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle. ‘Whether or not you feel compelled to follow a particular lifestyle or not, you have the ability to decide not to do that,’ Perry allegedly said. ‘I may have the genetic coding that I’m inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that, and I look at the homosexual issue the same way.’” [MSNBC, 6/12/14]
Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio opposed same sex marriage and lamented the “growing intolerance” toward people “who continue to support traditional marriage.” “‘There is a growing intolerance on this issue, intolerance of those who continue to support traditional marriage,’ the Florida Republican senator and potential 2016 presidential contender told a standing-room only crowd. ‘Even before this speech is over, I’ll be attacked as a hater or bigot. Or someone who’s anti-gay. This intolerance in the name of tolerance is hypocrisy. Supporting the definition of marriage as one man and one woman, is not anti-gay. It is pro-traditional marriage’…Rubio, who supports marriage between a man and a woman, spent more than five-minutes of half-hour address wading into the thorny issue of same-sex marriage. His comments reflect the GOP’s struggle to find a position on an issue that enjoys growing public support — including from a handful of Republicans in Congress — but often alienates the party’s conservative base.” [Politico, 7/23/14]
Marco Rubio recorded a call for the National Organization for Marriage in support of traditional marriage. “Neither the National Organization for Marriage’s Brian Brown nor a spokesman from the Family Research Council — two organizations that strongly support a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex couples from marrying — responded Wednesday to BuzzFeed’s request for comment on Rubio’s remarks about marriage. (Just prior to the November 2012 election, Rubio recorded a call for NOM in support of marriage remaining limited to one man and one woman.)” [BuzzFeed, 2/6/13]
Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum opposed same-sex marriage and compared legalizing same-sex marriage to legalizing polygamy. “Asked by a college student why he opposed the right of same-sex couples to wed, he responded that there was no compelling reason to allow it and suggested that it was akin to legalizing polygamy. ‘So, everybody has the right to be happy?’ he said. ‘So, if you’re not happy unless you’re married to five other people, is that OK?’ Santorum’s logic provoked an outcry from the audience, which was made up primarily of local college students but also a number of local conservative voters who were there to support the surging presidential candidate.” [Washington Post, 1/5/12]
Rick Santorum likened same-sex marriage to bestiality and pedophilia, arguing the definition of marriage does not include homosexuality, “man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be.” “Every society in the history of man has upheld the institution of marriage as a bond between a man and a woman. Why? Because society is based on one thing: that society is based on the future of the society. And that’s what? Children. Monogamous relationships. In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. That’s not to pick on homosexuality. It’s not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be. It is one thing.” [USA Today, 4/23/03]
Rick Santorum signed onto “a pledge condemning same-sex parents and marriage equality.” “Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum are the only two Republican presidential candidates who have signed on to a pledge condemning same-sex parents and marriage equality, authored by the Texas pastor who recently promised to burn himself alive if the Supreme Court rules in favor of marriage equality, according to U.K. LGBT outlet Pink News. Republican presidential hopefuls Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum both signed on to the ever-growing ‘pledge in solidarity to defend marriage,’ which claims that ‘marriage as existing solely between one man and one woman precedes civil government.’ The pledge, first reported by The Advocate June 15, goes on to (inaccurately) claim that ‘no civil institution, including the United States Supreme Court or any court, has authority to redefine marriage.’ That’s an argument both Huckabee and Santorum have advanced with increasing frequency as the high court nears a decision that could bring marriage equality to all 50 states by the end of the month.” [The Advocate, 6/23/15]
Scott Walker
Scott Walker proposed an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to “reaffirm the ability of the states to continue to define marriage.” “I believe this Supreme Court decision is a grave mistake. […] As a result of this decision, the only alternative left for the American people is to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to reaffirm the ability of the states to continue to define marriage.” [Scott Walker statement, 6/26/15]
Scott Walker supported a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. “The other day, Scott Walker declared that if the Supreme Court rules for a Constitutional right to same-sex marriage, he’d support a Constitutional amendment allowing states to ban it. This stance would not have been surprising coming from Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, or Ted Cruz. But coming from a self-styled reform governor who represents a new generation of leaders, it turned a lot of talking heads.” [Washington Post, 6/11/15]
Scott Walker supported a proposed amendment to the Wisconsin state constitution to ban gay marriage and civil unions. “Wisconsin voters will decide in November whether to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage and civil unions after the proposal cleared its final hurdle in the Republican-controlled Legislature Tuesday evening. […] The two Republicans seeking their party’s nomination for governor U.S. Rep. Mark Green and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker both support the ban.” [Associated Press, 3/1/06]
Scott Walker stood by the state’s constitutional ban on gay marriage. “Barrett also voiced his support for gay marriage, while Walker said he stands by the state’s constitutional ban on gay marriages passed in 2006.” [Associated Press, 5/26/12]
Scott Walker said he still supported same-sex marriage ban even after federal judge had declared it unconstitutional. “Governor Scott Walker says he still supports the state’s ban on same sex marriage, even after Thursday’s appeals court ruling that the ban is unconstitutional. At a campaign stop in Eau Claire, Governor Walker said he and Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen will continue to defend the gay marriage ban. Walker says, ‘Until the U.S. Supreme Court either chooses not to take it up or were to rule that the law here and elsewhere is unconstitutional, we are still obligated to support the constitution as it was amended by the voters.’” [WKOW, 9/5/14]