Paul Ryan Regrets Gay Adoption Vote

Paul Ryan’s gay adoption vote more than a decade ago reflects a stance on which he has since evolved, the former running mate of failed GOP candidate Mitt Romney admitted this week at a town hall meeting.

Since the election, Paul Ryan’s gay adoption stance is one that has not often been queried.

But the Wisconsin congressman was asked about his far earlier vote at a Wisconsin town hall this week, and he took an uncharacteristically moderate stance on the issue of adoption rights for LGBT couples — who, it goes without saying, face challenges in having children far less common among heterosexual individuals and couples.

A constituent pressed Ryan on a 1999 vote in which he’d voted against gay adoption, and Ryan explained of his stance now vs. then:

“Adoption, I’d vote differently these days … That was, I think, a vote I took in my first term, 2000 or 1999. I do believe that if there are children who are orphans who do not have a loving person or couple — I think if a person wants to love and raise a child they ought to be able to do that. Period.”

The GOP congressman continued, adding that his stance on marriage equality has not changed despite his now differing view on the adoption of a child:

“I would vote that way. I do believe marriage is between a man and a woman, we just respectfully disagree with each other on that issue.”

The Advocateadds that Ryan additionally addressed LGBT workplace discrimination, and the mag says:

“Ryan also said he would vote in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would make it illegal to discriminate against a worker based on his or her sexual orientation, as a similar law was enacted in his home state decades ago.”

You can watch Paul Ryan’s gay marriage answer to a constituent, below.