Romney repeats gay marriage opposition
Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has reaffirmed his homophobic credentials amid reports that he once courted the
gay lobby.
The religious right in the US have been seeking answers from the potential Republican presidential candidate after it was revealed that he once courted the gay community for their support in a 1994 campaign for the US Senate.
A letter, revealed by Massachusetts newspaper Bay Windows, promises to represent the community, "I think the
gay community needs more support from the Republican Party, and I would be a voice in the Republican Party to foster anti-discrimination efforts," it said.
However, Mr Romney has now returned from a trip to Asia to reassert his position on
gay rights.
He told the National Review Magazine: ?Like the vast majority of Americans, I've opposed same-sex marriage, but I've also opposed unjust discrimination against anyone, for racial or religious reasons, or for sexual preference.?
The revelation has angered conservatives in the US. Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council, told the New York Times: ?This is going to create a lot of problems for Governor Romney, he is going to have a hard time overcoming this."
PinkNews.co.uk writer
Snow: Bush not shifting views on gay parenting
WASHINGTON ? Although he recently expressed confidence that Mary Cheney will make a loving parent, President Bush continues to believe it is best that a child is raised by a man and woman married to each other, the president's spokesman said Friday.
The pregnancy of Vice President Dick Cheney's younger daughter,
a lesbian, has reignited public discussion about
gays becoming parents.
Some social conservatives, who strongly support Bush and the vice president on most issues, greeted the news of Mary Cheney's pregnancy with dismay, arguing that it undermined efforts to emphasize the primacy of the traditional family unit.
Commenting on the controversy, Bush last week told People magazine that Mary Cheney would be "a loving soul to her child. And I'm happy for her."
Pressed on whether his remark contradicted views he previously expressed that being raised by gays falls short of an ideal situation for a child, he avoided a direct response.
"Mary Cheney is going to make a fine mom, and she's going to love this child a lot," he said.
In 2005, Bush said in an interview that he thought it best for children to be raised by married men and women. He does not favor
same-sex marriage.
"I believe children can receive love from gay couples, but the ideal is ? and studies have shown that the ideal is ? where a child is raised in a married family with a man and a woman," he told the New York Times.
On Friday, White House press secretary Tony Snow was asked whether the president stood by this belief.
"Yes, he does," Snow replied. "But he also believes that every human life is sacred and that every child who comes into this world deserves love.
"And he believes that Mary Cheney's child will in fact have loving parents."
Snow said Bush had not addressed whether he thought children raised by gays were at a disadvantage.
In the People interview, Bush said he found out about the pregnancy when the vice president "took me aside and gave me the good news."
Bush added that the vice president and his wife, Lynne, "are very happy for Mary."
The president did not mention Cheney's partner of 15 years, Heather Poe.
By JAMES GERSTENZANG
Los Angeles Times
