2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Has Sanders really always supported marriage equality [View all]dsc
(52,160 posts)Many marriage opponents have said or signed similar statements. Here is one example.
http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/John_Kerry_Civil_Rights.htm#Gay_Rights
Personally believes marriage is between a man & a woman
If the Massachusetts legislature crafts an amendment that provides for partnership and civil unions, then I would support it, and it would advance the goal of equal protection. I personally believe marriage is between a man and a woman.
Source: Paul Farhi, Washington Post , May 15, 2004
Defense of Marriage Act is fundamentally ugly
In 1996, John Kerry again parted with the church when he voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, which created a federal defintion of marriage as the union between a man and a woman and prohibited the extending of federal marital benefits, such as Social Security, for same-sex partners. Kerry called the Defense of Marriage Act fundamentally ugly, fundamentally political, and fundamentally flawed.
Source: Complete Biography By The Boston Globe, p.294 , Apr 27, 2004
Opposes Massachusetts DOMA since theres a federal DOMA
Q: You say you oppose gay marriage. You also oppose the federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Do you think other states should have to recognize a gay marriage performed in Massachusetts?
KERRY: I said very clearly that I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. But notwithstanding that belief, there was no issue in front of the country when that was put before the US Senate.
Q: You also said that you believe the Defense of Marriage Act was fundamentally unconstitutional.
KERRY: I was incorrect in that statement. I think, in fact, that no state has to recognize something that is against their public policy. For 200 years, we have left marriage up to the states.
Q: So would you support the Massachusetts Defense of Marriage Act?
KERRY: No, because the Defense of Marriage Act is the law of the land today.
Source: Democratic 2004 primary debate at USC , Feb 26, 2004
For partnership rights and civil union
Q: What can you do to help make sure that gays and lesbians have an opportunity to build and love their families?
A: I have always fought for the right of people to be able to be treated equally in America. Long before there was a television show or a march in Washington. In 1985, I was the sole sponsor of the Civil Rights Act to make sure we enforced that in America. I am for partnership rights. I am for civil union. I am for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. I am for the hate crimes legislation
Source: CNN Rock The Vote Democratic Debate , Nov 5, 2003
Provide gays and lesbians with full coverage of civil rights
We have great difficulties in providing people with full coverage of civil rights in this country, particularly gays and lesbians.
Source: KERRY/WELD: CLASH OF THE TITANS, PBS.org , Jun 5, 1996
end of quote
The fact is in 1983 and quite later even, banning gay people from getting married wasn't actually considered discrimination by most people, including pro gay liberals. So yes, it is quite possible to say the words Sanders said and still be opposed to marriage equality as many, many people were back then and well into the 2000's. I know I could find similar things said by Obama for example and likely Hillary Clinton as well. I chose Kerry only because he was actually in office in the early 80's and I knew would be easy to find stuff for.