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Loading ...Bill Clinton now supports marriage equality
07.14.2009 3:55pm EDT
(Washington, D.C.) 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.
Back in May at Toronto’s Convention Centre, 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.”
Read the full article at the Nation.
So, the gutless and balless wonder finally got some and got a pair? Where they in escrow somewhere or did he finally get them back from his b!tch wife. Does this former Rhode “Scholar” have any idea the damage, heartache, and suffering he has cause in people’s lives? He is the one who put DOMA in place! He is the one who put DADT in place.
Where was his “support” when he had power? It is too late and too little that he has seen the light now that he is worthless and powerless. I hope when his time comes that he dies slowly and in agony. He should rot in that fabled Special-Place-In-Hell we all hear so much able.
Typical christian: He thinks he can undo a lifetime of evil in the last few minutes just by saying what he did was wrong. Please note that he did NOT even apologize for destroying untold numbers of lives.
I’d vote for Bill Clinton’s Left NUT before I’d EVER vote for a RIGHT WING, CHRISTIAN TALIBAN, REPUBLICANAZI! EVER!
Ya, some things seem a little late for you Bill, but nonetheless Thanks for your support now, we can use it and hell of a lot more!
I doubt I will ever hear either of the George Bush(es) come out in support of anything LGBT!
He’s sneaky. I’ll give him that. Gay marriage is a foregone conclusion, so now he’s rushing to be all “I may be the President who signed DOMA, but I’m the first one to ‘basically’ support it.”
Thanks. Can you get rid of DOMA now? What? You have no say anymore?
Go screw yourself, then.
It’s great to have former President Clinton on our side on this important issue. We can only hope that he, and Hillary, will work with other equal marriage supporters toward reversing DOMA. We welcome his help.
Sorry xcajun. Anti-gay legislation is NEVER the right time. Then, nor now.
Well.. not only just SAY…. Do something. You sign the Bills, Not it is time to Repair this mistake.
or
He says good things about gay marriage. because, His speech got money.
An interesting change indeed from when he was President. It is rather unfortunate that he was responsible for signing into law DOMA and DADT. And now, along with other notables that have crossed the floor and have had a change of heart, we can only hope that DOMA and DADT will both be repealed within this current presidency. It is long overdue!
@Chet: Those were the words, thanks.
Gee, thanks, Bill. That really makes things all better now. Grrr.
For once, I am at a loss for words. One phrase does come to mind though. Grrr!
All intelligent people evolve. Our movement for our civil rights must move on too. Let’s hope some of the supreme court judges who are against us go soon too(away, that is and off the bench).
“You can thank Bill Clinton for DADT”
Yeah…we can…because before that gays couldn’t serve in the military at all. It’s not a great thing, but it was something at the time. I think if you’re going to pick at Bill you’re going to have to take a look at the context from which his actions arise. Allowing gays to serve in the military at all was a big step back then. IT gave us a foothold in our arguments.
May be he can become more loud about his support for same sex marriage and repair some of the damage he’s made.
It’s funny how they support our rights only when they are NOT in power…
I don’t excuse his signing of DADT and DOMA, but Bill Clinton’s support for marriage equality now could bring it closer to reality. Public opinion is shifting toward support, and this statement from a towering figure like Clinton could help speed that shift.
Yes, the right-wing evangelicals are still pounding on this issue, but in the end, I think they’re going to lose. Some fairly influential conservative Christians argue that their group’s attitudes toward homosexuality have got to change. Examples include Tony Campolo, Philip Yancey, and researchers David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. This is significant: support for the old-style evangelical stance is less and less solid even among conservative believers, to say nothing of mainstream and progressive Christians or the public at large.
Even people who don’t support marriage equality believe it’s only a matter of time, and that’s a pretty reliable indicator. Society is changing, and in time, I think we’ll see a majority of Americans in favor of full marriage equality.