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Politics and Same-Sex Marriage in 2012

With a major election approaching in November 2012, same-sex marriage is front and center in the national political spotlight. Learn more about the opposing perspectives on same-sex marriage, from political leaders to the average American voter.

Political Leaders

With their positions at stake in the upcoming elections, many politicians have been pressed to offer their views on same-sex marriage:

Barack Obama, President of the United States

"I think same-sex couples should be able to get married." (2012)

"What I believe is that marriage is between a man and a woman." (2004)

Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States

"I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties." (2012)

Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City

"[President Obama's support of marriage equality] is a major turning point in the history of American civil rights. No American president has ever supported a major expansion of civil rights that has not ultimately been adopted by the American people - and I have no doubt that this will be no exception." (2012)

Mitt Romney, 2012 Republican presidential candidate, former governor of Massachusetts

"My position is the same on gay marriage as it's been well, from the beginning, and that is that marriage is a relation between a man and a woman." (2012)

Ron Paul, Congressman and Republican presidential candidate

"I think [marriage] should be done by the church or private contract, and we shouldn't have this argument...who's married and who isn't married. I have my standards but I shouldn't have to impose my standards on others." (2011)

"I think that marriages should be between a single man and a single woman." (2004)

Religious Figures

Prominent religious leaders and activists have spoken out on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate:

Rev. Jesse Jackson, Baptist minister and civil rights activist

"LGBT people deserve equal rights - including marriage equality. Discrimination against one group of people is discrimination against all of us." (2012)

Rev. Billy Graham, Southern Baptist minister and evangelist

"The Bible is clear - God's definition of marriage is between a man and a woman." (2012)

Rev. Susan Russell, Episcopal priest and activist

"I believe the Episcopal Church will continue to evolve on the issue of marriage equality and look forward to joining our UCC [United Church of Christ] brothers and sisters in being a headlight instead of taillight on marriage equality." (2012)

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York

"...We cannot be silent in the face of words or actions that would undermine the institution of marriage, the very cornerstone of our society." (2012)

State by State

Seven states (MD, ME, MN, NC, NH, NJ, WA) are putting the issue of same-sex marriage on the ballot in 2012. The debate is far from over:

Washington

Christine Gregoire, Governor of Washington State

"Religions can decide what they want to do, but the state cannot be in the business of discrimination." (2012)

Christopher Plante, Spokesman for Preserve Marriage Washington

"If you look at what Americans have done, from the deepest blue states like Maine, California and Wisconsin to the Bible Belt, when they've had a chance to define marriage as one-man, one woman, that's what they've done." (2012)

North Carolina

Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality

"Someone's religion teaches them to condemn homosexuality, and yet they are in some kind of relationship, whether a family member or close friend who is gay." (2012)

North Carolina Voters Voted to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage

"Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state." (2012)

Minnesota

Thomson Reuters, Global media company and major Minnesota employer

"We believe the Minnesota Marriage Amendment [banning same-sex marriage], if passed, would limit our ability to recruit and retain top talent." (2012)

Chuck Darrell, Spokesman for Minnesota for Marriage

"The Marriage Protection Amendment does one thing - it preserves our historic definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and it ensures that voters remain in charge of the definition of marriage in the future." (2012)

States supporting same-sex marriage or unions/no prohibition

States allowing domestic partnership/civil unions and banning same-sex marriage

States banning same-sex marriage