Democratic Candidates Endorse Gay Rights | LA Times

[Ediacara]

3:52 PM PDT, July 15, 2003


Democratic Candidates Endorse Gay Rights
-All of the 2004 contenders back measures to bar discrimination against homosexuals. Several candidates balk at supporting gay marriage.

By RONALD BROWNSTEIN, Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON -- All of the Democratic presidential candidates gave an unprecedented endorsement today to measures that would bar discrimination against homosexuals. The leading candidates, however, balked at embracing gay marriage.

In response to a questionnaire from a major gay rights group, and in appearances before the organization in Washington, each endorsed a ban on hiring discrimination against gays. And all except Sen. Bob Graham of Florida said they would seek to repeal the compromise used for the military, known as "don't ask, don't tell," that former President Bill Clinton implemented that allowed gays to serve.

All the candidates also said they would support "civil unions" that would offer gay couples many of the same rights and benefits provided to heterosexual married couples.

More at the LA Times

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Yes listening to the debate on C-SPAN

I love it

[dsc]

2. Debate will rerun

at 11:13 pm on CSPAN 2 and can be seen at www.hrc.org where pdf files of the questionaires can also be downloaded.