Stephanie Condron and agencies
Friday August 10, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
"Gay marriage - right or wrong?" was the question that divided Democratic candidates last night in a televised debate on gay rights.In front of a Hollywood gathering predominated by gay people, and before television cameras for a gay TV channel that broadcasts to millions, six of the candidates vying to run for election next year laid bare their thoughts.
Not surprisingly, they said they supported gay rights.
Hillary Clinton, the New York senator and former first lady, the Illinois senator, Barack Obama, and the former North Carolina senator John Edwards were among those quizzed at the event.
One by one the politicians took to an armchair for around 20 minutes each to face a panel that included Melissa Etheridge, a lesbian singer.
Just two of the candidates, Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich, said they thought gay couples should be allowed to marry just as heterosexual couples can.
Mrs Clinton, Mr Obama, Mr Edwards and the New Mexico governor, Bill Richardson, argued that civil unions were sufficient.
Civil unions between same-sex couples are recognised by various states in the US, so gay people who "marry" are afforded equal rights to a point. But the federal government recognises only marriage between a man and woman, meaning there is not full equality.
Most Americans oppose giving same-sex couples the same marriage rights, a Gallup poll has shown.
Mr Obama, despite being a member of the United Church of Christ, which supports gay marriage, argued that civil unions were not a "lesser thing".
"If we have a situation in which civil unions are fully enforced, are widely recognised, people have civil rights under the law, then my sense is that's enormous progress," he said.
Mr Richardson said: "In my judgment, what is achievable is civil unions with full marriage rights."
The Human Rights Campaign, which organised the event, said it had shown that there was "more work to do" on gay rights.
"The overwhelming majority of the candidates do not support marriage equality," said Joe Solmonese, the group's president. "While we heard very strong commitments to civil unions and equality in federal rights and benefits, their reasons for opposing equality in civil marriage tonight became even less clear."
The candidates had clearly done their utmost to emphasise their gay-friendly credentials.
Mrs Clinton made it clear that she felt she had made a mistake in March when she sidestepped a question during a television interview on whether homosexuality was immoral by saying it was "for others to conclude".
"It was a mistake," she said.
Mr Richardson apologised for using a Spanish word, maricón, which is used as a gay slur, on a radio show last year and said he "meant no harm".
The question of whether one is born gay was also raised.
When asked by Ms Etheridge whether homosexuality was a choice or biological, Mr Richardson said: "I don't see this as an issue of science or definition. I see gays and lesbians as human beings."
But he later said: "I do not believe that sexual orientation or gender identity happen by choice."
All of the candidates said they supported a federal ban on job discrimination against gay people and wanted to see a repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy barring gays from serving openly in the armed forces. Mrs Clinton said such a repeal was one of her "highest priorities".
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