Hillary Clinton supports gay marriage, according to a new video put out by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). The video shows the former Secretary of State explaining why she wants marriage equality.
Clinton’s declaration of support for same-sex marriage isn’t surprising, considering her previous support internationally. She supported the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 2007.
Her announcement also puts her in line with other 2016 Democratic candidates as well as the current president. It also comes less than a month after her spouse, former President Bill Clinton, came out in support of gay marriage. He did so through an op-ed on The Washington Post .
The former president asked the Supreme Court to overturn DOMA, which he signed into law. Hillary Clinton is not the only politician to come out in favor of gay marriage in the last week.
Republican Senator Rob Portman endorsed gay marriage late last week, explaining that his son came out to him as gay. In Hillary Clinton’s gay marriage support video, she cited her work as secretary of state to help the United States become a leader in the defense of gay rights.
Clinton explained in the video, “like so many others, my personal views have been shaped over time by people I have known and loved.” One example would be her daughter, Chelsea, who married her longtime partner last year. Previously, Hillary had supported civil unions but was opposed to marriage (2003). But it appears she now fully supports marriage equality.
Clinton added of her decision to support gay marriage:
“LGBT citizens … deserve the rights of citizenship. That includes marriage. That’s why I support marriage for lesbian and gay couples. I support it personally, and as a matter of policy and law embedded in a broader effort to advance equality and opportunity for LGBT Americans and all Americans.”
After announcing her support for gay marriage, Hillary Clinton urged Americans to continue living up to our “highest ideals and continue our long march to a more perfect union.” Are you glad the former secretary of state is for same-sex marriage?
[Image by The Official CTBTO Photostream [ CC-BY-2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons ]