Candidate Responses
Asked in 2003 whether gay marriage is inevitable, said: "I'm not sure. I think it probably is." In that same interview with Fox News, Biden added, "We're going to go through a process here that is necessary for this nation in terms of how we deal with the rights and recognition of gay unions. And I don't think that gets settled by a constitutional amendment. It makes it more divisive."
Although opposing a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, Biden voted in 1996 in favor of Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits same-sex marriage under federal law.
Would let states decide. Opposes constitutional amendment to ban it. Clinton has come out against gay marriage, but does support civil unions. However, she has said that if New York passed legislation allowing gay marriage, she would not oppose it.
Dodd opposed the constitutional amendment, although he says he supports civil unions and not gay marriage.
In a 2007 interview when asked the difference between the two, Dodd said, "I don't think probably much in people's minds. If you're allowing that, all the protections you have there, you've covered it."
Edwards has said in several interviews he supports civil unions, but not gay marriage. However he opposes a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Edwards said, "Civil Unions? Yes. Partnership benefits? Yes. But it's a jump for me to get to gay marriage. I haven't yet got across that bridge."
Kucinich opposed a law allowing same-sex marriage when he ran for Congress in 1996. His position has changed and he now supports gay marriage and opposes the constitutional amendment banning it.
"And with respect to those who happen to be gay, [filtered word], bisexual, transgendered, these are God's children," he said on CNN's Paula Zahn show in 2007. "They should have the same rights. Our constitution does not provide any - for any differences to be established.
Obama supports civil unions but not gay marriage. He voted against the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
In a press release after the vote, he said, "I personally believe that marriage is between a man and a women. But I also agree with most Americans, including Vice President Cheney and over 2,000 religious leaders of all different beliefs, that decisions about marriage should be left to the states as they always have been."
Opposes same-sex marriage, but supports domestic partnerships or same-sex civil unions. As governor of New Mexico, he has fought for a domestic partnership bill there. He has said in recent interviews he would support civil unions nationally.
Opposes gay marriage, but also opposes amending the Constiution to ban the practice.
"I thought the best answer was domestic partnerships as a way of dealing with that, so that you're recognizing the rights of people who are gay and [filtered word] and protect them," he said on Fox News' Hannity & Colmes. "But marriage should be between a man and a woman."
Wants to amend Constitution to ban gay marriage, as Arkansas did with the state constitution when he was governor.
In a Time Magazine interview, he said, "I may not agree with it (homosexuality) and, in fact, don't agree with it. But I respect that they have the right to do it. When they want to change the rules, though, of institutions like marriage, I feel I have a responsibility to speak out. The rules are one man, one woman for life."
Wants to amend Constitution to ban gay marriage. He introduced legislation to amend the constitution to define marriage as solely between a man and woman.
"I firmly believe that children need the unique influence offered by both a father and a mother," he said on his web site.
