Highlights
Melissa Etheridge, one of the three panelists at the forum, asked Gov. Bill Richardson, "Do you think homosexuality is a choice or is it biological?" Richardson responded, "It's a choice." Etheridge restated the question: "Do you think a homosexual is born that way, or do you think that around seventh grade we go, 'Oh, I want to be gay'?" Richardson replied, "Well, I'm not a scientist."
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton faced scrutiny from gay advocates when she was asked by Joe Solmonese about her opposition to same-sex marriage. Clinton replied, "I prefer to think of it as being very positive about civil unions." Clinton stated she fully supported civil unions that would have the full equality and benefits of heterosexual marriage. Other views on same-sex marriage included Senator Barack Obama's statement that he would "make sure the legal rights that have consequences on a day-to-day basis for loving same-sex couples all across the country ... are recognized and enforced." Senator John Edwards renounced his previous statements that, due to his religious views and Southern Baptist background, he opposed same-sex marriage. Edwards stated "I shouldn’t have said that."
In contrast to the leading Democratic candidates' support for civil unions with all rights similar to marriage, only Representative Dennis Kucinich and former Senator Mike Gravel stated their support for same-sex marriage.
On gays in the military, Senator Clinton claimed that the creation of the "Don’t Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the administration of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was initially meant to prevent a "witch hunt" for gays and lesbians in the military.
Read more about this topic: Visible Vote '08: A Presidential Forum