Family and Marriage: What is your position on civil union law and same-sex marriage?

Wesley Clark: I believe that same-sex couples should have the same rights under the laws. They should not be denied rights to pensions, health insurance, family medical leave, bereavement leave, hospital visitation, survivor benefits and other basic legal protections that all families and children need. I will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

• It is in the best interest of our country to promote stable communities and families. This includes both heterosexual and same-sex families.
• Currently, most of our laws extend rights and responsibilities only to heterosexual families and explicitly exclude same-sex couples from enjoying those same rights and responsibilities. That's discrimination and it's wrong.
• I support civil unions that will grant same-sex couples the same rights under the law that heterosexual couples enjoy.
• When it comes to the use of the term “marriage,” I believe that decision should be left to churches, synagogues, mosques, other religious institutions, and state legislatures.

Howard Dean: Same-sex couples should have the same legal rights and responsibilities as other couples. Each state should decide how to extend these rights in areas such as insurance, inheritance and hospital visitation. I oppose a federal constitutional amendment denying states the authority to grant legal rights to same-sex couples.

• I believe in equal rights. Same-sex couples should have the same civil rights and responsibilities as other couples. Each state should decide how to extend legal rights to same-sex couples in areas such as insurance, inheritance and hospital visitation. As many Fortune 500 companies have recognized, extending equal rights to same-sex couples does not diminish the rights of other couples.
• The decision of who may enter into civil marriage has always been a state function and the federal government should not intrude in this area. I believe the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, and I strongly oppose a federal constitutional amendment denying states the authority to grant legal rights to same-sex couples. At the same time, government may only grant civil rights; it may not compel religious institutions to recognize any particular relationship.
• There are those who use this issue to divide Americans. Instead, it is an opportunity to affirm what binds us together � a fundamental belief in the equality of human beings, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.

John Kerry: I strongly support civil unions. I believe same-sex couples should be granted full and equal protection under the law, including access to health insurance, family medical leave, bereavement leave, hospital visitation, survivor benefits, and other basic legal protections that all families deserve.

I have always believed in extending equal protections and equal rights to all Americans without regard to race, religion, creed, or sexual orientation.

• Gay couples should not be denied the chance to visit a partner in the hospital, denied survivor benefits when tragedy strikes, or denied the health care protections extended to other committed loving couples.
• I strongly support civil unions because I believe gay and lesbian couples deserve full and equal protection under the law.
• I oppose the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act,” which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, because it was nothing more than Senate-sponsored gay bashing that politicized this difficult question.
• I think the debate over same-sex marriage is getting hung up over the word “marriage,” and I don�t want anything to stand in the way of providing gay men and lesbians full and equal protections under the law.

John Edwards: I support partnership benefits for gays and lesbians in committed relationships. While I personally do not support gay marriage, I recognize that different states will address this in different ways. I will oppose any effort to pass an amendment to the United States Constitution in response to the recent Massachusetts state Supreme Court decision.

• I believe in equal rights for all, including the rights of gays and lesbians. Gays and lesbians should have the same freedoms and the same responsibilities as all Americans, and deserve to be treated with the equal respect.
• I support legislation to end discrimination in employment against gays and lesbians and to punish hate crimes based on sexual orientation.
• I also support partnership benefits for gays and lesbians in committed, long-term relationships.
• While I personally do not support gay marriage, different states will address this in different ways, and I oppose an amendment to the United States Constitution in response to the recent Massachusetts state Supreme Court decision.