From the 2008 Opposition Research report prepared by the McCain Campaign.
Gay Rights
Romney endorsed Rep. Barney Frank’s Employment Nondiscrimination Act in 1994.
In 1994, Romney called “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy first step toward having gays and lesbians “able to serve openly and honestly in our nation’s military” and said he would provide “more effective leadership” on gay rights issues than Ted Kennedy.
In 2003, The Washington Times reported Romney “would support a Vermont-style civil union law in Massachusetts.”
As governor, Romney said health coverage benefits and hospital visitation rights should be provided to gay couples.
Romney promised to make gay partnership benefits a “hallmark of my leadership as governor” and has said he would attend gay weddings if invited.
Romney publicly opposed Boy Scouts’ ban on homosexuals in 1994 and 2002 campaigns.
In 2002, Romney backed hate crimes legislation that included sexual orientation provisions.
In 2007, Romney praised gay parent who confronted him over gay marriage issue, but in 2005 remarked to South Carolina audience that some gay couples “are actually having children” and called it “wrong.”
