Same-sex Marriage; Massachusetts; Mitt Romney

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney says the failure of that state's legislature to ban same-sex marriage underscores the urgency of amending the United States constitution for that purpose.

"Today's vote by the State Legislature is a regrettable setback in our efforts to defend traditional marriage. Unfortunately, our elected representatives decided that the voice of the people did not need to be heard in this debate. It is now even more important that we pass a Constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage. Marriage is an institution that goes to the heart of our society, and our leaders can no longer abdicate their responsibility."

This is a dramatic departure from his opinion in the 1990s that defining marriage is a responsibility left more appropriately to the states.

Last year, the Boston Globe reviewed a number of Romney's public positions on issues including same-sex marriage and the rights of gay Americans, as he stated them in a 1994 interview with a gay-interest magazine.

On whether he supported domestic partner benefits legislation for gay federal employees:

“I think what Bill Weld has done here in that regard is the right step and moves in the right direction. [Weld granted sick leave and bereavement time to management-level state employees].

“I think when people have a commitment to one another, either a heterosexual or homosexuals relationship, that they should have the benefit of visitation rights and leave privileges and things of that nature. The question for me in regards to the health care benefits would be to determine what the cost is, what the implications are, where one would draw the boundaries , how one would define commitment. And those are areas I haven’t studied so I won’t take a position on that. I do support generally the proposition that people in homosexual relationships should not be discriminated against in terms of employment benefits.”

On whether he supported the civil marriage rights of same-sex couples:

“I line up with Gov. Weld on that, and it’s a state issue as you know — the authorization of marriage on a same-sex basis falls under state jurisdiction. My understanding is that he has looked at the issue and concluded that certain benefits and privileges should be offered to gay couples. But he does not feel at this time that he wishes to extend legalized marriage on a same-sex basis, and I support his position.”

On whether he’d want more studies done on the marriage issue:

“That will occur at the state level. I’ll let the governor in Massachusetts, and the governors of others states, as well, study it, evaluate it, discuss the alternatives with psychologists and social workers and health care specialist and so forth to gather information and consider it in a very reasoned way. I have confidence the governor will take the right action.”

Of course, that was then. This is now, and now, Romney is trying to win the presidential nomination of a party whose most steadfast supporters consider gays and lesbians to be barely human, much less deserving of the full benefits of American citizenship.