The last time Hillary Clinton‘s return address was 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., White House staffers fought to be able to send gay couples congratulation notes for their weddings. Bill had signed DOMA into law in 1999, and it was considered an administrative triumph to be able to send White House stationary to same-sex couples on their “special day.” They still couldn’t write “wedding,” after all.
Fast forward to candidate Hillary recently urging the Supreme Court to grant same-sex couples the right to marry across the nation, and we can’t help but feel hopeful about the trajectory of the fight for equal rights.
“Hillary Clinton supports marriage equality and hopes the Supreme Court will come down on the side of same-sex couples being guaranteed that constitutional right,” confirmed Adrienne Elrod, spokesperson for Hillary for America.
Hillary joins many who’ve voiced hope that the expected June ruling by SCOTUS will put an end to the nationwide fight for same-sex marriage.
In February, President Obama said, “My sense is that the Supreme Court is about to make a shift, one that I welcome, which is to recognize that — having hit a critical mass of states that have recognized same-sex marriage — it doesn’t make sense for us to now have this patchwork system. It’s time to recognize that under the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution, same-sex couples should have the same rights as anybody else.”
aliengod
The problem with Hillary is it would be like having another Obama in the White House. Our country can’t allow that to happen. I’m glad she’s pro LGB, but that isn’t the main issue facing the Presidency by a long shot.
Jaime-Arturo Rodriguez Luevano
I believe her. There was a time when my own parents were homophobic and I never imagined them supporting my coming out and later my marriage. It was a different time back then but people can change as did my parents over the years. My own mother was the one who suggested I get married to my long term partner with her blessing before she died of cancer. I believe in Hillary and support her!
Mack
Aliengod, would you prefer Santorum? Bush? Rubio? Cruz? Christie? Who would you prefer-someone who try and pass a Constitutional Amendment to take away our rights because those I named will do just that. The Democrats at this point doesn’t have anyone who CAN win the election against the Right wingers. Some times we have to take someone we might not like in order to survive and Clinton is a heck of lot better than ANYONE the Republicans can put up.
Tommy O'Brien
But when she was running for pre last time, did she not say it was up to the states to decide?
Gale Fowler
Good for her
Milk
Not aware there’s a new position to take regarding this issue.
Blackceo
@aliengod:
That to me is going to be Hillary’s biggest conundrum. Rethuglicans are already ramping up the “third Obama term” stuff the same way Dems did with McCain in 2008 saying it would be a “third Bush term”. It’s certainly fair game. Hillary has got to figure out if she wants Obama out there campaigning for her or if she wants to keep him at a distance. She already has some of his re-election staff with her, which she needs because she’s got to have the ground organization he did and she’s got to make sure she gets his coalition out to support. Again, I’m not as excited for Hillary but I certainly like this populist tone she is taking regarding income inequality, wanting to keep The Affordable Care Act, campaign finance reform, marriage equality. So we shall see. I do hope she picks Julian Castro as her VP. That would ramp up my excitement.
lauraspencer
Hillary had the opportunity to move back into 1600 Pennsylvania Ave in 2008 and even then she still didn’t support gay marriage. She didn’t come out in support of gay marriage until 2012 when the tide had shifted and most of the US was also in support.
To be a leader you have to do the right thing at the wrong time. This wasn’t the case with Hillary or Bill’s stance on gay rights.
I will will give her a pass because a year later she had the issue with the blood clot in her brain. So she probably wasn’t thinking correctly until having surgery after her brain aneurysm.
Curty
@aliengod: You’re either a frau or self hating homophobe. Of course you don’t care about equality for gay people. Go away.
Dwight Roberts
I think her stance reflects the overall change in the attitudes of Americans as well as the world. If you look at the Democratic Party as whole, they have been one of the most progressive parties in civil rights. In 1860 the Democrats opposed the freedom of slaves. By the 1960s the Democrats supported equal rights for blacks, in the 70s and 80s equality of Hispanics and women, and now the rights of gays.
Cam
@aliengod: said… “The problem with Hillary is it would be like having another Obama in the White House. Our country can’t allow that to happen. I’m glad she’s pro LGB, but that isn’t the main issue facing the Presidency by a long shot.”
_________________________________
Notice how the people that keep trying to attaack any democratic politican never provide specifics?
Lay out your problems with her, or Obama, or your comment is just meaningless. And if you can’t, then that is telling us something too.
darian
This it’s the official stance of Republicans: http://www.mediaite.com/online/gay-gop-group-barred-from-participating-at-western-conservative-summit/
So why trust them to have anyone else’s best at heart or represent anyone fairly when they do this to “their own”.
Calebspapi
I just wish we could have a true candidate who’s last name is not Clinton or Bush. A “leak” from her camp says she intends to raise 2.5 billion dollars. Damn! But yes, I would rather her than ANY of the rebulicans. Sofie’s choice, this is not.
Gale Fowler
She was 27, Jeffrey!!!!. Like you never told a lie to any girls you were trying to pick up!!! Wasn’t there something about you and the Olympics that you use to use??? lol
EquesNiger
Just as Obama only “came out” in support of marriage equality during the latter years of his first term (having emphatically stated that his personal belief was that marriage was between only a man and a woman during his initial campaign), Hillary only threw her support toward the issue in 2013, a 180 from her previous open position.
It’s a little sad that the gay comm holds its representative party to such low standards of loyalty. No matter what, the majority of gays, along with an overwhelming majority of blacks and hispanics, will always vote Democrat. The Democratic party doesnt need to do anything substantive for our vote – just be present – as the alternative party is too hostile.
Desert Boy
Years ago, I read daughter Chelsea played a role in Hillary’s “evolution” on marriage equality, basically challenging her mother by asking her how she could have all these gay friends and not support marriage?
I welcome Hillary’s position on marriage equality.
Now, if she would only “own” her cowardly vote FOR the disastrous Iraq war, or at very least address it, I would support her 100%.
polarisfashion
She’s gotta win. A Republican president will be a disaster for this country. I’m not just worried about losing our LGBTQ rights. I don’t want us getting lied into yet another war. I don’t want to see jobs being lost or an economy crashing. The Republicans are nothing but bad news and we have to do everything we can to make sure they don’t take the White House. Please liberals, do not stay home on this election cycle.
Giancarlo85
She is the only option for this country. Republicans are disgusting in every way and want to sell this country out to corporations and bible thumpers.
And what new position? As Secretary of State, she is expected not to speak about domestic matters. This is a long standing unspoken rule. This site keeps peddling this crap.
lauraspencer
She wasn’t Secretary of State when she was First Lady in the 1990s or when she was campaigning in 2007 and 2008. She did not support marriage equality then.
Low Country Boy
@lauraspencer: Jesus, take about 20 seconds out of your day and Google the facts. Posting inanity like like this demeans your (maybe) intelligence. I’m guessing you are about 16-years-old? Your logic dictates as much.
Giancarlo85
@lauraspencer: You haven’t a clue what you’re talking about. Do you post nonfactual bullshit all of the time? Do you realize Obama wasn’t progay marriage in 2008? Do you realize the democratic party didn’t embrace same sex marriage until 2012? You are clueless.
Patrick J Hamilton
Since the Gays are being leveraged so heavily (by both sides), I hope we act like it in the voting booths. #GetOutandVote
Rob White
she’s got my vote…
McShane
@Low Country Boy: @Giancarlo85: @lauraspencer:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/dos/436.htm
David Briskie
People do change there minds and opinions over time .its called growth ! Im glad for her
Kevin Anderson-Garrity
Gasp people can change for the better after 16 years .
Gale Fowler
Well I told them you were Jeffrey. I left out he brick wall part!!!
Captain Obvious
Changing your “opinion” to win votes to get into the white house isn’t new. And anyone who votes for this crazy women clearly hasn’t done one iota of research into the things she wants to do if she gets in.
Then again this is probably the most moronic generation of lazy idiots the world has ever seen so most won’t vote and the ones who do won’t read or listen.
Giancarlo85
@McShane: And?
@Captain Obvious: You’re the one who hasn’t done one iota of research. You haven’t posted anything actually backing up what you have said. You stand on quick sand. You are sinking fast in your own bullshit.
Giancarlo85
I love it when people sit on their pedestals here and complain about Hillary… and they then claim they know everything she wants and thinks she has some kind of evil plan.
Some people are so fucking ignorant. I think they are just afraid of a woman in power. Sad how misogynist attitudes can be so prevalent among some gay men.
IcarusD
@aliengod: I wouldn’t mind another Obama. History will look favorably on his administration.
northwest
All the Democratic candidates who thought they could win by backing away from President Obama and his policies in the 2014 midterms LOST. If Hillary’s smart, she’ll speak out strongly about what the Obama Administration accomplished (lower unemployment, lower gas prices, lower deficit, ending DOMA/DADT, bringing health insurance to millions, killing Bin Laden, ending two wars, etc. Emphasize how she, as a DEMOCRATIC President would continue that legacy. Republicans haven’t done a damn thing to deserve another term in the White House. They are SHIT.
Rocco Compitello
She can’t deliver.
Cam
@Captain Obvious:
Oh no, you’re too smart to be fooled. You’ll vote for Santorum, or Walker, who will pass executive orders against gays. That’ll show everybody how smart you are!
jason smeds
Why doesn’t Hillary voice her views personally rather than through her spokespeople? She seems to shield herself from being seen to have a view on gay marriage.
I’ve never seen her as being particularly gay-friendly towards men. I think that, as a woman, she fears male homosexuality because it means male power.
Also, why would anybody trust a woman who accepted humiliation at the hands of a cheating husband? She’s not an empowered woman in the slightest.
Ronbo
Hillary would put us in jail if she thought it would help her career or pocket book.
Remember her knowing smile as her husband signed DADT and DOMA? She claimed we would get “two for one” and we got: cuts to welfare, bank deregulation, DADT, DOMA, NAFTA and just about all the Republican policy that no Republican could pass.
Get ready for more Republican policy from a “two for one” Clinton.
Caoimhin Mikael Lycke
And…
Ronbo
@IcarusD: History will view Obama as passing Republican trickle-down, supply-side policies of Romneycare and wallstree bankster bailouts. Our middle-class and poor have yet to recover.
And while ACA is better than nothing, it merely pushes more money into the hands of the wealthy corporations. Single-payer healthcare is the world-wide standard and much better than the for-profit system that has the USA at the bottom of the barrel among the industrialized nations.
http://eml.berkeley.edu/~saez/saez-UStopincomes-2012.pdf Hope still doesn’t feed me.
1EqualityUSA
Perhaps she chose to forgive her husband in order to smooth the road to the white house for either herself or her daughter. Political minds such as hers do not get caught up in minutiae. They usually gaze at the chess board and strategize. It shows thought and motive. A divorced woman would likely not have a chance of winning the election. Bill Clinton can help her. It could possibly be redemption for their name in history. What would Jimmy Carter do if he had a chance to play the game again, with more to offer, in a completely different way. Mr. Clinton could be an advisor, an advocate, and one with a similar motivation. For the Clintons, this presidency is a chance to redeem their name, for their daughter’s sake? Anybody who would refer to a woman such as this as, “not empowered” would need to sit down and stop talking.
1EqualityUSA
I’m voting for the Clintons this upcoming election.
Giancarlo85
@jason smeds: Hillary, as a woman, is in a far stronger position of power than you. Doesn’t that scare you?
“I’ve never seen her as being particularly gay-friendly towards men.”
Considering she is one of the most outspoken supporter of LGBT people, you better rethink that. She made several striking statements towards equal rights in other countries as Secretary of State. Secretary of States typically did not speak about domestic affairs though.
“she fears male homosexuality because it means male power.”
Err wrong. You fear Hillary because she is in a position of power and is one of the most powerful women in the country.
Obama has compromised too much with republicans. Obama when he was running said one thing and did the other when he got elected. Hillary needs to be more confrontational and strong. Obama is a decent President, but nothing more than that. Hillary needs to be stronger than him. Obama has been a weak executive. I applaud him on the immigration executive order and the half assed ACA… better than nothing I suppose? But he let the republicans gut financial regulation, such as the Dodd-Frank rules. And he really should use executive orders far more.
Obama is a decent President, but I think HIllary could be a better one.
1EqualityUSA
The Republicans did everything they could to undermine President Obama. He persevered under constant duress. The Republicans made a mockery of the political system. The “do-nothing” congress will be remembered for their lack of bi-partisanship. Republicans would rather ruin the Country than have Obama succeed magnificently for two terms. Through mean-spirited selfishness and dirty politics, Obama maintained his composure. The Supreme Court, realizing what fools they had in the conservative party, did their best to support the Republicans with Citizens United and gutting the Voter Rights Act. Gerrymandering and cheating Republicans latch onto any hate-fueled issue and ride that loud scooter as long as they can, wringing out every last bigotry vote they can muster. The Republicans are disgusting, entitled, bigoted, desperate people. It’s so ugly that it’s sort of like looking at a bug in a jar, disgusting, but oddly, I can’t take my eyes off of it. Avert your eyes for an instant, and the Republicans are fiddling with your retirement accounts again. What a nice position to be in, having everyone in the Country made compliant by way of fear and insecurity. What better way to coerce a country’s people than by way of their retirement accounts. Republicans are not healthy for those who are not wealthy.
Howard Hamilton
Still not voting for her.
IvanPH
No matter how much you despise her, she could not possibly be worse than any Republican. So VOTE for her for crying out loud!
Giancarlo85
@1EqualityUSA: Obama’s main fault though was trying to negotiate and compromise with republicans. Republicans gutted the Frank-Dodd rules, and Obama let that slide… that was a big error in my opinion.
Giancarlo85
@Howard Hamilton: Who will you vote for then? Probably Jeb right?
1EqualityUSA
Giancarlo85, With this President, it’s all about timing. It’s more subtle, endeavors were accomplished. This man has a good sense for timing when to move forward.
Captain Obvious
@Giancarlo85: You always make everything about you, turn it into a person attack against you, and start hurling insults. Seriously, go outside, find some friends, and socialize with real people.
@Cam: Nice straw man, didn’t say any of that. Vote for who you want, I’m entitled to my opinion like you are to yours. You don’t have to reply to everything posted like it’s a personal attack against you.
Seems to be a common thing on this blog.
James Hart
Hillary is a flip flopper and a liar. So what else is new???
Giancarlo85
@Captain Obvious: Learn how to make a coherent and clear argument, before you post your usual unsupported bullshit.
@James Hart: Lol. You are the liar… And your Republican party are a bunch of flip flopping idiot liars. What is your defense, self hater?
tjr101
I’m a liberal Kennedy/Obama Democrat and Hillary has got my vote. I understand that she has to walk a tight rope and not appear to be a 3rd Obama term, but that is precisely what the base and a slight majority of the general population wants. They want a continuing improvement of the economy, job growth and less reckless warmongering. She needs the Obama coalition to win. Women, gays, blacks, hispanics, asians and jews all turned out in big numbers for Obama and I can only hope she can create enough enthusiasm. The GOP is simply disgusting.
Captain Obvious
@Giancarlo85: Posting random insults and holding random grudges on the internet. This is your “life”… rofl.
Giancarlo85
@Captain Obvious: Speak for yourself.
mmichael_24
@James Hart: omg a politician a liar what has the world come to 😮
downtownla
Breaking news… Hillary just came out against the Holocaust, too!
Hillary’s only campaign message is based on fear, “It’s me or a Republican.” That’s not a very strong message nor has she ever proven to be a good campaigner. I would actually says she’s a pretty weak candidate for the general election. Just look at her unofficial campaign so far and all the amateurish mistakes she’s made. She doesn’t have natural political instincts to get her out a jam and she doesn’t have a strong message that will inspire people.
And if you want specific policy issues… She’s a military hawk who is partly responsible for the mess in Irag and ISIS, she is also tied to Wall Street and the engines behind the widening income gap, she has strong ties to walmart who refuses to pay a living wage… Supporting the poor and lower middle and middle class has never been prominent issues for her… She’s basically a 1970 version of a republican. Ironic given her current campaign message.
I’m not sure if any
Giancarlo85
@downtownla: That’s an extremely good message. Republicans are pathetic, and Hillary actually has a plan. What has republicans have actually pushed? Hillary is someone that has plenty of natural political instincts… want to know why I can say that? Republicans have been going after her for years and failing at every attempt.
And your ideas on her policies are laughable at best. And ones that are not founded on any real facts.