07.15.09
Bill Clinton now supports marriage equality
Former president Bill Clinton has expressed his support for gay marriage, a stance he did not hold during his presidency. While speaking at the Campus Progress National Conference in Washington, DC, on July 8, the former president said he is “basically in support” of gay marriage.
Clinton said his position on same sex marriage was “evolving.” During his presidency, Clinton passed the Defense of Marriage Act which defines marriage as between one man and one woman.
“I personally support people doing what they want to do,” Clinton said on July 8. “I think it’s wrong for someone to stop someone else from doing that [same-sex marriage].”
Clinton has said that he doesn’t view the issue as a federal one. When asked about the five states that have passed same sex marriage this past spring, Clinton said, “I think all these states that do it should do it.” He added again that it was not a “federal question.”
Other Democrats who have changed their positions recently about marriage equality include former Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean, New York Senator Charles E. Schumer, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine and Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd.
“Bill Clinton joins other important public figures in stepping solidly into the twenty-first century in support of same-sex marriage equality,” said the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s executive director Rea Carey. “We certainly hope other elected officials, including President Obama, join him in clearly stating their support for equality in this country. Same-sex couples should not have to experience second-class citizenship.”