Al Gore Announces Support for Marriage
(Wednesday, January 23, 2007)
Washington, DC - Today, National Stonewall Democrats issued the following statement on the announcement of support for same-sex marriage by Vice President Al Gore:
"We applaud Vice President Gore for firmly stating his support for allowing same-sex couples the freedom to marry. It is a position which some would still call courageous, but which a new generation of Americans would call common sense. We continue to work to push Democratic politicians to embrace this position whose legal implementation would only strengthen the American family. Vice President Gore has demonstrated leadership on this subject, and we encourage all Democratic leaders who restrain their consciences out of political expediency to demonstrate their leadership as well."
- Jon Hoadley, Executive Director
Vice President Gore released his statement as a content block on Current TV, a cable television network led by Gore. Current TV, with a targeted audience of young adults, maintains a program focus of user-generated content. Vice President Gore submitted his video content on the rights of same-sex couples as a personal opinion piece. The segment by Gore was publicized late yesterday by openly-gay blogger Andy Towle on his blog Towleroad.com
Transcript of Current TV Piece by Al Gore
"I think it's wrong for the government to discriminate against people because of a person's sexual orientation. I think that gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women to make contracts, have hospital visiting rights, and join together in marriage.
I don't understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage to allow it for gays and lesbians. Shouldn't we be promoting the kind of faithfulness and loyalty to one partner regardless of sexual orientation? Because if we don't do that, then to that extent you are promoting promiscuity and promoting all the problems that can result from promiscuity.
And the loyalty and love that people feel for one another when they fall in love ought to be celebrated and encouraged and shouldn't be prevented by any form of discrimination in the law."
- Vice President Al Gore
A direct video link can be found on Current TV at:
http://current.com/items/88817757_gay_men_and_women_should_have_the_same_rights
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National Stonewall Democrats is the only national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democrats, with more than 90 local chapters across the nation. NSD is committed to working through the Democratic Party to advance the rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
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