Post date: Mar 18, 2013 8:28:31 PM
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announces her support for gay marriage in a video posted on YouTube.
(HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN) - Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, released a video on Monday (March 18), in which she backs marriage rights for gay Americans.
During the video for the gay rights advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, Clinton said she supports gay marriage "personally and as a matter of policy and law."Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) "Americans are our colleagues, our teachers, our soldiers, our friends, our loved ones, and they are full and equal citizens and deserve the rights of citizenship. That includes marriage," Clinton said in the 5-minute-long video posted on YouTube.
Her comments come amid a wave of similar declarations from other politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, and as the Supreme Court is considering two gay marriage cases.
President Barack Obama last year announced his support for gay marriage, which is already permitted in nine of the 50 states as well as Washington, D.C.
Earlier this month, Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, also addressed the issue, saying the 1996 law that he signed defining marriage as between a man and woman was unconstitutional and should be overturned.
The Republican Party opposed gay marriage in its 2012 convention platform, but some notable Republicans have broken ranks.
Among them is Ohio Senator Rob Portman, who on Friday (March 15) became the most prominent Republican lawmaker to support gay marriage, influenced, he said, by learning that his son was gay. Republican leaders, however, were quick to reiterate their opposition to same-sex marriage.