Hillary Clinton Announces: Yes, I Support Gay Marriage
Posted:
Updated:
Posted by: Jeffrey Thomas DeSocio, Digital News Editor / Producer - email
Washington, D.C. -
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her support for gay marriage Monday, putting her in line with other potential Democratic presidential candidates on a social issue that is rapidly gaining public approval.
Clinton made the announcement in an online video released Monday morning by the gay rights advocacy group Human Rights Campaign. She says in the six-minute video that gays and lesbians are "full and equal citizens and deserve the rights of citizenship."
"That includes marriage," she says, adding that she backs gay marriage both "personally and as a matter of policy and law."
Clinton's announcement is certain to further fuel the already rampant speculation that she is considering another run for president in 2016. Other possible Democratic contenders -- including Vice President Joe Biden, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley -- all back the right of same-sex couples to marry.
Polls show that public opinion on gay marriage has shifted perhaps more rapidly than on any other major issue in recent times. In Gallup polling last November, 53 percent of adult Americans said same-sex marriages should be granted the same status as traditional marriages, while 46 percent felt they should not be valid.
In 1996, when Gallup first asked about gay marriages, 27 percent felt they should be valid.
The shift among the major political parties has been equally swift. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Clinton and rival Barack Obama both backed civil unions for gay couples, but not same-sex marriage. In the lead-up to the 2012 election, Obama announced his support for gay marriage and Democrats backed the right of same-sex couples to wed in their party's official platform.
The White House welcomed Clinton's announcement, saying it meant Clinton's views on the issue were now in line with Obama's.
"The president believes that anytime a public official of stature steps forward to embrace a commitment that he shares to equality, he thinks it's a good thing," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.
The GOP officially opposes gay marriage, though several high profile Republicans have publicly backed the right of same-sex couples to wed. On Friday, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman became the first Republican senator to announce his support for gay marriage, saying he had a change of heart after learning that his son is gay.
More than 100 Republicans also submitted a "friend of the court" brief to the Supreme Court asking the justices to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. The court will hear oral arguments on California's Proposition 8 measure next week.
Justices will also hear arguments in a related case concerning the constitutionality of a provision in the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman. President Bill Clinton signed the act into law in 1996, but said earlier this month that he now believes it is unconstitutional and should be overturned.
Despite holding back in supporting same-sex marriage, Hillary Clinton was a strong support of gay rights, both in the U.S. and abroad, during her tenure at the State Department. Under her watch, the U.S. government made it official policy to promote gay rights around the world.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:04 PM EDT2013-06-18 22:04:51 GMT
The U.S. foiled a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange because of the sweeping surveillance programs at the heart of a debate over national security and personal privacy, officials said Tuesday at a rare open hearing on intelligence led by lawmakers sympathetic to the spying.
The U.S. foiled a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange because of the sweeping surveillance programs at the heart of a debate over national security and personal privacy, officials said Tuesday at a rare open hearing on intelligence led by lawmakers sympathetic to the spying.
Monday, June 17 2013 5:12 PM EDT2013-06-17 21:12:15 GMT
States can't make people prove their citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections unless they get federal or court approval to do so, the Supreme Court ruled Monday in a decision complicating efforts in Arizona and other states to keep non-Americans from voting.
States can't make people prove their citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections unless they get federal or court approval to do so, the Supreme Court ruled Monday in a decision complicating efforts in Arizona and other states to keep non-Americans from voting.
Friday, May 31 2013 5:26 PM EDT2013-05-31 21:26:16 GMT
The government said Friday that Medicare's giant hospital trust fund will be exhausted in 2026, two years later than projected last year, while the date that Social Security will exhaust its trust fund remained unchanged at 2033.
The government said Friday that Medicare's giant hospital trust fund will be exhausted in 2026, two years later than projected last year, while the date that Social Security will exhaust its trust fund remained unchanged at 2033.
Friday, May 31 2013 4:13 PM EDT2013-05-31 20:13:56 GMT
President Barack Obama is urging Congress to prevent an increase in student loan rates.
President Barack Obama on Friday urged Congress to prevent an increase in student loan rates, saying rising college costs hold back the entire middle class and unfairly saddle young people with more debt just as they are starting out in their adult lives.
Thursday, June 13 2013 10:19 AM EDT2013-06-13 14:19:11 GMT
For months, China has tried to turn the tables on the U.S. to counter accusations that it hacks America's computers and networks. Now, former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden may have handed Beijing a weapon.
For months, China has tried to turn the tables on the U.S. to counter accusations that it hacks America's computers and networks. Now, former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden may have handed Beijing a weapon in its cyber war of words with Washington.
Monday, June 10 2013 10:58 AM EDT2013-06-10 14:58:28 GMT
The FAA released a report last week on helicopter noise in LA without any guidelines that pilots must obey.
This story affects you, and me...and everyone else here in the Southland. Helicopters buzzing over your house to chase a story or pursue a crime suspect. The FAA released a report last week on helicopter noise in LA without any guidelines that pilots must obey.
Friday, June 7 2013 10:38 AM EDT2013-06-07 14:38:26 GMT
Moving to tamp down a public uproar spurred by the disclosure of two secret surveillance programs, the nation's top intelligence official is declassifying key details about one of the programs.
Moving to tamp down a public uproar spurred by the disclosure of two secret surveillance programs, the nation's top intelligence official is declassifying key details about one of the programs.
Thursday, June 6 2013 11:05 PM EDT2013-06-07 03:05:15 GMT
The Obama administration on Thursday defended the National Security Agency's need to collect telephone records of U.S. citizens, calling such information "a critical tool in protecting the nation."
The Obama administration on Thursday defended the National Security Agency's need to collect telephone records of U.S. citizens, calling such information "a critical tool in protecting the nation."
Wednesday, June 5 2013 2:20 PM EDT2013-06-05 18:20:46 GMT
President Barack Obama's top national security advisor is resigning and will be replaced by Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. who has been a lightning rod for Republican criticism.
President Barack Obama's top national security advisor is resigning and will be replaced by Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. who has been a lightning rod for Republican criticism.
Tuesday, June 4 2013 10:58 AM EDT2013-06-04 14:58:53 GMT
Military leaders said Tuesday that sexual assault in the ranks is "like a cancer" that could destroy the force, but they expressed serious concerns about far-reaching congressional efforts.
Military leaders said Tuesday that sexual assault in the ranks is "like a cancer" that could destroy the force, but they expressed serious concerns about far-reaching congressional efforts.
Monday, June 3 2013 11:32 AM EDT2013-06-03 15:32:57 GMT
A fire at a poultry plant in northeastern China trapped workers inside a cluttered slaughterhouse, killing at least 119 in one of China's worst industrial disasters in years despite recent work safety
A fire at a poultry plant in northeastern China trapped workers inside a cluttered slaughterhouse, killing at least 119 in one of China's worst industrial disasters in years despite recent work safety
Monday, June 3 2013 11:04 AM EDT2013-06-03 15:04:16 GMT
The next time a flight attendant reminds you there's no smoking on the plane or you witness a teenager getting carded at a liquor store, think of Frank Lautenberg.
The next time a flight attendant reminds you there's no smoking on the plane or you witness a teenager getting carded at a liquor store, think of Frank Lautenberg.
Monday, May 27 2013 2:06 PM EDT2013-05-27 18:06:14 GMT
Americans planned to gather at cemeteries, memorials and monuments nationwide to honor fallen military service members on Memorial Day, at a time when combat in Afghanistan approaches 12 years.
Americans planned to gather at cemeteries, memorials and monuments nationwide to honor fallen military service members on Memorial Day, at a time when combat in Afghanistan approaches 12 years.
KTTV FOX 11 1999 S. Bundy Dr. Los Angeles CA 90025
