Presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina U-turns on same-sex marriage ban
Republican Presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina has U-turned on same-sex marriage – and says she would no longer support a bill to ban it.
The former business exec, who announced earlier this month that she will run for President in 2016, has previously opposed equality and insisted courts shouldn’t rule on the issue.
However, speaking to conservative blog Caffeinated Thoughts, she said that she would “respect” the Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling on the issue – even if it tips as expected in favour of equality.
She said: “I think the Supreme Court ruling will become the law of the land and however much I agree or disagree with it, I wouldn’t support an amendment to reverse it.
“I very much hope that we will come to a place now in this nation where we can support their decision, and at the same time support people’s right to hold religious views and protect their right to exercise those views.
“I think this is a nation that should be able to accept a government shouldn’t discriminate in how it provides benefits, and that people have a right to their religious views, and those views need to be protected.”
It is a departure from her previous stance in favour of a Federal Marriage Amendment banning gay marriage – and makes her the first Republican candidate to say they would respect a ruling from the court in favour of equality.
It is bizarre that she now accepts the legitimacy of judges – because she previously attacked “self-important, self-appointed judges saying this is culturally the new norm”.
She also previously said: “I think that the worst thing the Supreme Court can do right now is shortcut this conversation [on same-sex marriage]”
Her new-found stance puts her against fellow challenger Ted Cruz, who has filed bills to prevent legal action against states that continue to ban same-sex weddings, and blocking federal courts from deciding on the issue.
Other rumoured contenders for the Republican nomination include Dr Ben Carson – who damaged his chances by claiming prisons prove being gay is a choice – and Jeb Bush, who has recently hired an anti-gay activist to work on his campaign team.
Democrat Hillary Clinton was recently endorsed by pro-LGBT group Equality California – more than a year before the polls open in November 2016.
