HRC Blog

Paul Ryan Attacks Marriage Equality in Focus on the Family Interview

October 4, 2012 by Dan Rafter, Online Campaigns Manager

Paul Ryan – fresh off of an appearance at the Values Voter Summit where he was relatively tame on LGBT equality – came out swinging in an interview with Focus on the Family President Jim Daly.

It’s no surprise that the Romney-Ryan ticket stands against marriage equality, nor that a Romney administration would defend the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act. What is troubling is Ryan proudly touting his support for the 2006 constitutional amendment in Wisconsin banning marriage for loving, committed same-sex couples.

Ryan’s remarks to Daly:

It’s the foundation for society and for family for thousands of years. First of all, Mitt Romney and I — I’ll just say it, it’s worth repeating — we believe marriage is between one man and one woman, that’s number one. Number two, you know where I come from we had one of those amendments in Wisconsin, I was a big supporter of it and we passed it like you say, where it’s put on the ballot it passes. The second point is, President Obama gave up defending the Defense of Marriage Act in the courts, I mean, not only is this decision to abandon this law the wrong decision, it passed in a bipartisan manner, it is very troubling because it undermines not only traditional marriage but it contradicts our system of government. It’s not the president’s job to pick and choose which laws he likes. A Romney administration will protect traditional marriage and the rule of law and we will provide the Defense of Marriage Act the proper defense in the courts that it deserves. (H/T Right Wing Watch)

For those who believe that a Romney-Ryan ticket talks a big game on marriage equality to appease social conservatives, but actually wouldn’t do anything that extreme once in office: history paints a very different picture. Paul Ryan is proud of his support for the discriminatory amendment in Wisconsin. Mitt Romney bitterly fought against marriage equality in Massachusetts, doing everything he could to battle the state legislature; and he even lashed out against youth – disbanding the Governor’s Commission on LGBT Youth and halting the publication of bullying guides simply because they acknowledged gay people existed.

Those are just a few of the actions that should send a loud and clear signal to folks about how LGBT Americans will fare under a President Romney.