Washington, D. C. -
Vice President Dick Cheney says he will support a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, a reversal of his stand during the 2000 presidential campaign.
In a nationally televised debate in 2000 with then Democratic vice-presidential candidate, Sen. Joe Lieberman, Cheney was asked about gay marriage.
"The fact of the matter is we live in a free society, and freedom means freedom for everybody," Cheney said. "And I think that means that people should be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to enter into. It's really no one else's business in terms of trying to regulate or prohibit behavior in that regard.
"The next step, then, ... is the question you ask of whether or not there ought to be some kind of official sanction, if you will, of the relationship," said Cheney. "That matter is regulated by the states. I think different states are likely to come to different conclusions, and that's appropriate. I don't think there should necessarily be a federal policy in this area."
But that was before the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled the state cannot prevent gays from marrying, before California and New Jersey passed domestic partner laws, before the extreme right in the GOP lambasted him for his support of same-sex rights (albeit limited) and before a Colorado Republican drafted legislation in Congress last year restricting marriage to a "union between a man and a woman."
Now, Cheney says he will support President Bush if the president pursues a ban on gay marriage." Obviously, the president is going to have to make a decision in terms of what administration policy is on this particular provision, and I will support whatever decision he makes," Cheney said in an interview with the Denver Post.
Cheney would not say whether his changed opinion was the result of White House pressure or if he, as the parent of a gay child, has discussed same-sex marriage with the President.
Cheney's daughter Mary is a lesbian and served as an advisor in the 2000 campaign. Prior to that she worked for the Colorado Rockies and the Coors Brewing Co. where, among other duties, she worked on outreach to gays and lesbians. During the 200 campaign the fact she is gay and has a committed partner became national news.
So far Mary Cheney has not commented on her father's new stance on gay marriage or said if she will be involved in his 2004 campaign.
by Doreen Brandt
365Gay.com Newscenter
Washington Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2004
In a nationally televised debate in 2000 with then Democratic vice-presidential candidate, Sen. Joe Lieberman, Cheney was asked about gay marriage.
"The fact of the matter is we live in a free society, and freedom means freedom for everybody," Cheney said. "And I think that means that people should be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to enter into. It's really no one else's business in terms of trying to regulate or prohibit behavior in that regard.
"The next step, then, ... is the question you ask of whether or not there ought to be some kind of official sanction, if you will, of the relationship," said Cheney. "That matter is regulated by the states. I think different states are likely to come to different conclusions, and that's appropriate. I don't think there should necessarily be a federal policy in this area."
But that was before the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled the state cannot prevent gays from marrying, before California and New Jersey passed domestic partner laws, before the extreme right in the GOP lambasted him for his support of same-sex rights (albeit limited) and before a Colorado Republican drafted legislation in Congress last year restricting marriage to a "union between a man and a woman."
Now, Cheney says he will support President Bush if the president pursues a ban on gay marriage." Obviously, the president is going to have to make a decision in terms of what administration policy is on this particular provision, and I will support whatever decision he makes," Cheney said in an interview with the Denver Post.
Cheney would not say whether his changed opinion was the result of White House pressure or if he, as the parent of a gay child, has discussed same-sex marriage with the President.
Cheney's daughter Mary is a lesbian and served as an advisor in the 2000 campaign. Prior to that she worked for the Colorado Rockies and the Coors Brewing Co. where, among other duties, she worked on outreach to gays and lesbians. During the 200 campaign the fact she is gay and has a committed partner became national news.
So far Mary Cheney has not commented on her father's new stance on gay marriage or said if she will be involved in his 2004 campaign.
by Doreen Brandt
365Gay.com Newscenter
Washington Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2004
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
