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Rudy Giuliani on Gay Rights
"Marriage should be between a man and a woman... We should be tolerant, fair, open, and we should understand the rights that all people have in our society. And I thought the best answer was domestic partnership as a way of dealing with that, so that you're recognizing the rights of people who are gay and lesbian and protect them. But marriage should remain between a man and a woman."
"I clearly believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, although I did support domestic partnerships and still do - a contractual relationship."
"Giuliani has described himself as a backer of civil unions and is frequently described that way in news reports. But he began distancing himself from civil unions in late April, when his campaign told The New York Sun that New Hampshire's new law goes too far because it is 'the equivalent of marriage,' which he has always opposed for gays."
"'Mayor Giuliani believes marriage is between one man and one woman. Domestic partnerships are the appropriate way to ensure that people are treated fairly,' the Giuliani campaign said in a written response to a question from the Sun. 'In this specific case the law states same sex civil unions are the equivalent of marriage and recognizes same sex unions from outside states. This goes too far and Mayor Giuliani does not support it.'"
In 1998 as mayor of New York City, he signed legislation recognizing domestic partnerships and said this in his remarks: "This landmark legislation represents a logical step forward in ensuring that those couples who choose to live in economically dependent and committed relationships continue to receive these important rights, benefits and protections and equal treatment under the law, free from discrimination. This Administration has always been committed to equal treatment under the law for all people, regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender or sexual orientation. I am proud to have introduced and I am prepared to sign into law this important piece of legislation."
"Giuliani's aides offered little explanation of what specific rights he would support for same-sex couples. In an interview and follow-up e-mails, Maria Comella, the campaign's deputy communications director, told the Globe that Giuliani supports domestic partnership laws similar to the one he initiated in New York in 1998. The New York law primarily ensures benefits to partners of municipal employees. The law created a registry of partnerships that also helps city residents obtain partner benefits from private companies that extend them. However, most of the registrants are unmarried heterosexual couples."
"We're at war and now isn't the time to question our military's ['Don't Ask, Don't Tell'] policy."
"This is not the time to deal with disruptive issues like [the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy]... Back in 1994 we went through this and it created a tremendous amout of disruption. Colin Powell, I think, was still the head of the Joint Cheifs of Staff before he left at the beginning of the Clinton administration. He came to the view that this was a good policy.... I don't think this would be the right time to raise these issues, and I think we should rely on the judgement of our commanders in a situation like this. They know what's disruptive and what's not, and in a time of war you don't make fundamental changes like this."