Meet the Candidates
I'm well aware that there are more LBGT issues out there than that of marriage, but for this post I chose to focus on just that issue. Here's the breakdown of the main candidates:
John McCain
History: Voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment [would legally define marriage as a union between a man and a woman] twice, speaking "eloquently against it as unconservative and unnecessary - a risky move for a Republican with presidential aspirations. When fellow Arizona lawmaker, Representative Jim Kolbe, came out in 1996, McCain stood up for him, saying that Kolbe “has the respect and appreciation of most Arizonans.” McCain has met with the Log Cabin Republicans openly, and his staff includes openly gay individuals. And, of course, he once famously referred to the religious right as “agents of intolerance.” " When speaking in front of the decidely anti-gay CPAC, "McCain did not gay-bait, not even in code... The words “traditional” and “family” never left his mouth. His references to God were minimal, coming either in his concluding “God bless you,” or in discussion of our God/Creator-given rights - basically, he took his tone from our Founders, and that’s a good thing. In what was the most tempting forum to pander to the right by using the old “smear the queer” tactics, he did not do so. If he didn’t attack us there, he won’t attack us in the general election or in his administration".(1) When asked what he would do about LBGT rights, he was confused until someone shouted to him what the acronym stood for. (2) Endorses John Hagee, though saying he doesn't share all of his views. "Democrats quoted Hagee as saying the Catholic Church conspired with Nazis against the Jews and that Hurricane Katrina was God's retribution for homosexual sin, and they recited his demeaning comments about women and flip remarks about slavery." (3) He supported Proposition 107, an addition to the Arizonan Constitution that not only defined marriage to exclude same sex couples, but also made it impossible for the government to give marriage-like benefits to any unmarried couples (including, but not limited to, any same-sex civil unions that might later be available). (9) Voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment because he believes it's a States' right to decide the definition of marriage.
Summary: Basically, he isn't anti-gay, but he's not going to do anything to further LBGT rights, either.
For: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy
Against: Federal Marriage Amendment. Gay marriage. Civil unions.
Hillary Clinton
History: She supported the Federal Marriage Amendment The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) while her husband was in office. She "is being credited for leading a behind-the-scenes fight against a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage." (6) She made a florid speech about her support for the LBGT community. (8) She supports mental health care for LBGT people and educating people over the LBGT community (in response to bullying of LBGT kids in school). (7) She is currently in favor of repealing the aspects of DOMA that block federal recognition of marriage and civil unions, but retaining the part that allows states to discriminate by refusing to recognize legal marriages from other states.
Summary: Supportive of the LBGT community as people, and wants to help. Yet, her plan for civil unions would give LBGT people who 'marry' under it less rights than heterosexual spouses have.
For: Civil unions, Federal Marriage Amendment
Against: Gay marriage, DOMA (to some extent)
Barack Obama
History: Wrote an open letter to the LBGT community. Basically it says that equality is important, and he supports civil unions, thus saying that "seperate but equal" is all we're going to get right now. The letter also says he prefers that the States decide whether or not to recognize same-sex marriage. (4) He is a civil rights attorney. (5)
Summary: Promotes seperate-but-equal thought. His civil union plan is the same thing as marriage, just under a different name. It's a step.
For: civil unions
Against: gay marriage, DOMA
Sources
1. http://www.interstateq.com/archives/2613/
2. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/09/04/post_56.html
3. http://community.livejournal.com/gsa_lj/1005450.html
4. http://community.livejournal.com/gsa_lj/1004127.html
5. http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid39485.asp
6. http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006/02/22/4
7. http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/29/hillary-clinton-on-lgbt-youth/
8. http://www.ourchart.com/node/299303
9. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0826initiatives26.html
John McCain
History: Voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment [would legally define marriage as a union between a man and a woman] twice, speaking "eloquently against it as unconservative and unnecessary - a risky move for a Republican with presidential aspirations. When fellow Arizona lawmaker, Representative Jim Kolbe, came out in 1996, McCain stood up for him, saying that Kolbe “has the respect and appreciation of most Arizonans.” McCain has met with the Log Cabin Republicans openly, and his staff includes openly gay individuals. And, of course, he once famously referred to the religious right as “agents of intolerance.” " When speaking in front of the decidely anti-gay CPAC, "McCain did not gay-bait, not even in code... The words “traditional” and “family” never left his mouth. His references to God were minimal, coming either in his concluding “God bless you,” or in discussion of our God/Creator-given rights - basically, he took his tone from our Founders, and that’s a good thing. In what was the most tempting forum to pander to the right by using the old “smear the queer” tactics, he did not do so. If he didn’t attack us there, he won’t attack us in the general election or in his administration".(1) When asked what he would do about LBGT rights, he was confused until someone shouted to him what the acronym stood for. (2) Endorses John Hagee, though saying he doesn't share all of his views. "Democrats quoted Hagee as saying the Catholic Church conspired with Nazis against the Jews and that Hurricane Katrina was God's retribution for homosexual sin, and they recited his demeaning comments about women and flip remarks about slavery." (3) He supported Proposition 107, an addition to the Arizonan Constitution that not only defined marriage to exclude same sex couples, but also made it impossible for the government to give marriage-like benefits to any unmarried couples (including, but not limited to, any same-sex civil unions that might later be available). (9) Voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment because he believes it's a States' right to decide the definition of marriage.
Summary: Basically, he isn't anti-gay, but he's not going to do anything to further LBGT rights, either.
For: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy
Against: Federal Marriage Amendment. Gay marriage. Civil unions.
Hillary Clinton
History: She supported the Federal Marriage Amendment The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) while her husband was in office. She "is being credited for leading a behind-the-scenes fight against a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage." (6) She made a florid speech about her support for the LBGT community. (8) She supports mental health care for LBGT people and educating people over the LBGT community (in response to bullying of LBGT kids in school). (7) She is currently in favor of repealing the aspects of DOMA that block federal recognition of marriage and civil unions, but retaining the part that allows states to discriminate by refusing to recognize legal marriages from other states.
Summary: Supportive of the LBGT community as people, and wants to help. Yet, her plan for civil unions would give LBGT people who 'marry' under it less rights than heterosexual spouses have.
For: Civil unions, Federal Marriage Amendment
Against: Gay marriage, DOMA (to some extent)
Barack Obama
History: Wrote an open letter to the LBGT community. Basically it says that equality is important, and he supports civil unions, thus saying that "seperate but equal" is all we're going to get right now. The letter also says he prefers that the States decide whether or not to recognize same-sex marriage. (4) He is a civil rights attorney. (5)
Summary: Promotes seperate-but-equal thought. His civil union plan is the same thing as marriage, just under a different name. It's a step.
For: civil unions
Against: gay marriage, DOMA
Sources
1. http://www.interstateq.com/archives/2613/
2. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/09/04/post_56.html
3. http://community.livejournal.com/gsa_lj/1005450.html
4. http://community.livejournal.com/gsa_lj/1004127.html
5. http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid39485.asp
6. http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006/02/22/4
7. http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/29/hillary-clinton-on-lgbt-youth/
8. http://www.ourchart.com/node/299303
9. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0826initiatives26.html