Explore Candidates President Cynthia McKinney on Gay Rights

Cynthia McKinney on Gay Rights

Sexuality can be a determining factor in certain rights alotted to individuals in the US. The benefits and definition of "marriage" are being challenged to consider gay couples and their intrinsic rights. This topic includes information about candidate positions on: gay marriage, civil unions, the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell policy", and federal benefits for same-sex couples.
Cynthia McKinney strongly supports gay marriage

“In keeping with the Green Key Values of diversity, social justice and feminism, we support full legal and political equality for all persons, regardless of sex, gender, or sexual orientation...We support the recognition of equal rights of persons gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender to housing, jobs, civil marriage, medical benefits, child custody, and in all areas of life provided to all other citizens.”

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[McKinney] supports the right of all individuals to freely choose their partners regardless of sex or sexual orientation and to the equal rights of all to the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage. Every religion is free to define "marriage" as it sees fit, but "marriage" under the law must not discriminate. As Rev. Al Sharpton once observed, we should be less concerned with who people go to bed with at night, and more concerned with whether either partner has a job to go to in the morning. The only kind of 'marriage' that needs a constitutional ban is the marriage between corporations and government.

Chicago Tribune Issues Comparison

Cynthia McKinney strongly supports civil unions

“In keeping with the Green Key Values of diversity, social justice and feminism, we support full legal and political equality for all persons, regardless of sex, gender, or sexual orientation...We support the recognition of equal rights of persons gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender to housing, jobs, civil marriage, medical benefits, child custody, and in all areas of life provided to all other citizens.”

link (quote)

[McKinney] supports the right of all individuals to freely choose their partners regardless of sex or sexual orientation and to the equal rights of all to the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage. Every religion is free to define "marriage" as it sees fit, but "marriage" under the law must not discriminate. As Rev. Al Sharpton once observed, we should be less concerned with who people go to bed with at night, and more concerned with whether either partner has a job to go to in the morning. The only kind of 'marriage' that needs a constitutional ban is the marriage between corporations and government.

Chicago Tribune Issues Comparison

Cynthia McKinney strongly supports extending federal rights and benefits to same-sex couples

"I supported the Equal Rights Amendment. I opposed efforts to ban gay adoptions in Washington DC."

Green Party 2008 Presidential Candidate Questionnaire Feb 3, 2008

In addition to the proposal to rescind “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” McKinney is also a co-sponsor of a bill that would create a path to citizenship for foreign gay men and lesbians in a domestic partnership with an American citizen.

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Cynthia McKinney strongly supports allowing gays to serve openly in the military

Co-sponsored the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2005 (H.R. 1059), which would replace "the current policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces, referred to as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", with a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation."

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