Gay Republican wants to know how Ted Cruz will protect him and his husband
Tue. April 19, 2016 8:35 AM by Carlos Santoscoy
Appearing Monday on Good Morning America, Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz answered questions about how so-called religious freedom bills affect gay and lesbian couples.
"I've noticed a lot of religious freedom laws and somewhat institutionalized discrimination laws happening around the country. What would you as president do to protect me and my husband from that institutionalized discrimination?" Todd Calogne, a self-described life-long Republican, asked.
Cruz suggested that such laws would protect Calogne and his family.
"When it comes to religious liberty, religious liberty is something that protects everyone," Cruz answered. "We want to be able to live in a world where we don't have the government dictating our beliefs and how we live. We have a right to live according to our faith and according to our conscience."
Host George Stephanopoulos followed up by asking Cruz about his support of a constitutional amendment that would effectively roll back the Supreme Court's 2015 finding that gay couples have a constitutional right to marry.
"So what would that mean for couples like Todd and his husband who already are married?" Stephanopoulos asked.
"I'm a constitutionalist," Cruz answered, "and under the Constitution, marriage is left up to the states. So, if someone wants to change the marriage laws, I don't think it should be five unelected lawyers down in Washington."
"We would expect the people in New York to adopt different laws than perhaps in California or Texas or Florida," he added.
"I've noticed a lot of religious freedom laws and somewhat institutionalized discrimination laws happening around the country. What would you as president do to protect me and my husband from that institutionalized discrimination?" Todd Calogne, a self-described life-long Republican, asked.
Cruz suggested that such laws would protect Calogne and his family.
"When it comes to religious liberty, religious liberty is something that protects everyone," Cruz answered. "We want to be able to live in a world where we don't have the government dictating our beliefs and how we live. We have a right to live according to our faith and according to our conscience."
Host George Stephanopoulos followed up by asking Cruz about his support of a constitutional amendment that would effectively roll back the Supreme Court's 2015 finding that gay couples have a constitutional right to marry.
"So what would that mean for couples like Todd and his husband who already are married?" Stephanopoulos asked.
"I'm a constitutionalist," Cruz answered, "and under the Constitution, marriage is left up to the states. So, if someone wants to change the marriage laws, I don't think it should be five unelected lawyers down in Washington."
"We would expect the people in New York to adopt different laws than perhaps in California or Texas or Florida," he added.
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