As the statewide nonpartisan advocacy group for North Carolina, Equality NC does not take positions on federal issues or races. However, we have been getting a lot of questions about the main 2008 presidential candidates and their stances on issues that affect the gay community.
Here are some comparisons between the positions of Barack Obama and John McCain on the broad topics that affect us.
Adoption
Obama supports adoption by LGBT folks.
McCain opposes adoption of children by gay couples.
Employment
Obama supports ending employment discrimination against the LGBT community and supports ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act).
McCain opposes employment nondiscrimination for LGBT folks and opposes ENDA.
Hate Crimes
Obama supports hate-crime legislation that includes protections for LGBT people.
McCain opposes hate-crime legislation.
HIV/AIDS
Obama supports the Ryan White CARE Act (the largest federal program for people living with HIV/AIDS) and supports comprehensive sex education aimed at preventing HIV/AIDS.
McCain supports abstinence-only education to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS (he voted to end funding for outreach specifically to the gay community) and does not support the Ryan White CARE Act.
Marriage
Obama opposes same-sex marriage. He supports civil unions (with separate but equal rights) and opposes a federal anti-gay marriage amendment.
McCain opposes same-sex marriage. McCain says the issue should be left to the states and most recently opposed a federal anti-gay marriage amendment but supported a state one.
Military Service
Obama supports openly gay military and wants to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
McCain does not support gays and lesbians serving in the military and supports the military’s “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy.
-T. Shawn Long
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