Which Candidate Supports YOUR Family?

The Presidential Candidates On Gay Civil Rights

This article, originally published in the USA Today, claims that "Democrats are divided on same-sex marriage, and some GOP contenders for the White House want to recognize civil unions for gays."

OK, well, we read through all of the candidate's views on LGBTQ issues and cannot find one single Repugnican who supports civil unions while two Democratic candidates support marriage and the rest support civil unions.

So, where is the USA Today getting that there is no clear line between the two parties?

Click on a candidate below to learn more:



A link to this article can be found on today's RainbowZine.

The Great Political Wedgie

Presidential candidates and political pundits get their panties all tied up in a knot any time the marriage equality issue is highlighted – especially during a campaign season.

Although polls indicate the Americans people are becoming more progressive and more accepting of equal rights for gay men and lesbians, our government – with the help of both political parties -- continues to wage war against our families.

Even in a “liberal” state like California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to veto (for the second time) a bill that would give same-sex partners the right to marry.

And although equal marriage rights are currently available in Massachusetts, as recently as June 2007 anti-equality advocates were fighting tooth and nail to pass a constitutional amendment that would redefine legal marriage in Massachusetts as a union between one man and one woman. The amendment was defeated but the right-wing nuts are determined to continue fighting for their right to discriminate and impose their beliefs on us.

All of the Presidential front-runners have flatly stated they do NOT support equal marriage rights.

Who knows if they are really expressing their true sentiments or if they are buying into the conventional wisdom that says this is the one wedge issue that will so rile up the Republican base that it is certain to spell defeat for any Presidential bid?

After a recent Iowa court ruling held that a ban on same-sex marriage violates the equal protections guaranteed to all Iowans regardless of their sexual orientation, the Associated Press described the candidate’s reactions as follows:

Mitt Romney called the ruling "another example of an activist court and unelected judges trying to redefine marriage and disregard the will of the people." John McCain said it was "a loss for the traditional family."

Hillary Clinton said she supports gay unions but said individual states should have last word on gay marriage. Barack Obama likewise punted, saying through a spokesman that "these matters should be left to the states."

A spokesman for Rudy Giuliani says the mayor "believes marriage is between a man and a woman."

The lesson to be learned from this struggle is that no matter if you live in Massachusetts, California or some place in between, you need to make sure your family is protected with Wills and Trusts to ensure your partner will have the right to inherit your property.

If you want your partner to make medical and financial decisions for you when you are ill or injured – and to have the right to visit you in the hospital – you need to create Advance Directives. If you have or want to have children together, you must nominate your partner as guardian of your child and enter into a parenting agreement to protect one another’s rights to parent the children, have visitation and collect child support.

None of these legal documents will give you the full range of rights and protections that are granted only by legal marriage – but it beats doing nothing at all.