Background: John Kerry has been a Senator from Massachuttes since 1984.
Gender Identity Employment: Kerry has not made it clear if he will support a bill to end workplace discrimination based on gender identity and expression. See comments below.
Hate Crimes: Kerry supports the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in Federal Hate Crimes Law. Current law does not include either, but does include race, religion and national origin.
Same-Sex Marriage: Kerry initially said he does not support same-sex marriage, but supports
civil unions. Kerry admitted to the Boston Globe that he is against a US Constitutional ban on gay marriage, but would support a Massachusetts ban, if it allows for civil unions. (See quote below)
Family Medical Leave: Kerry supports extending the Family Medical Leave Act to same-sex couples.
Same-Sex Immigration: Kerry supports the Permanent Partners Immigration Act (H.R. 832) which would allow American citizens to sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration into the country.
Gay and Lesbian Adoption: Kerry supports gays and lesbians having the same rights to adopt children as heterosexuals.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Kerry supports the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, which would allow gay and lesbian soldiers to serve openly in the military.
Kerry Comments: On Gender-Identity Discrimination in Employment: "I oppose discriminationof all kinds and my office policy prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on gender identity and expression. I believe we should focus efforts on getting ENDA passed and signed into law, and I am concerned that adding gender identity and expression to the ENDA legislation is likely to significantly hinder that effort."
On 2/24/04 after President Bush said he would endorse a Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriages Kerry said, "I believe the best way to protect gays and lesbians is through civil unions. I believe the issue of marriage should be left to the states, and that the president of the United States should be adressing the central challenges where he has failed--jobs, health care, and our leadership in the world--rather than once again seeking to drive a wedge by toying with the United States Constitution for political purposes."
On 2/27/04 Kerry said, in the Boston Globe about a Massachusetts amendment to ban same-sex marriage, "If the Massachusetts Legislature crafts an appropriate amendment that provides for partnership and civil unions, then I would support it, and it would advance the goal of equal protection." He was referring only to the state constitution, not US Constitutional ban that Bush has endorsed.
Kerry said he would only support the amendment if it made provisions for civil unions. "I think that you need to have civil union. That's my position," he said.
Where does President Bush stand on gay and lesbian issues?
Next Candidate
