When even a Republican running for Georgia's open U.S. Senate seat backs gay marriage, you'd think it would be a no-brainer for the Democrats to support marriage equality. Yet, three of four candidates don't.
That shameful fact was made clear again on Sunday when the four Democratic candidates – Michelle Nunn (photo), Branko Radulovacki, Todd Robinson and Steen Miles – made clear their positions on gay marriage. That progressive tide sweeping the country, and even Atlanta Democrats like Mayor Kasim Reed? All but Radulovacki missed it, according to the AJC.
Todd Robinson, a Columbus firefighter, distinguished himself from the field by saying he is in favor of civil unions but not same-sex marriage. Radulovacki and Miles favor same-sex marriage. Nunn personally is in favor of it but says states must decide for themselves how to address the legal question.
But that summary from the AJC misses how shameful it is that Nunn, the anointed candidate from Democrats, won't back gay marriage as fully as Pride parade marching Radulovacki and Art Gardner, the lone Republican in the race who does. It also gets Steen's position wrong. She and Robinson are stuck firmly in the past clinging to civil unions with Robinson serving up talking points from a bygone era. At least you thought it was bygone.
The candidates flushed out their positions on gay marriage in interviews with WTVM, which you can watch in the video below at the 1:35 mark.
Steen Miles:
"I see the future of legalized civil unions between our gay brothers and sisters in Georgia as a positive and that should happen. We should not discriminate against any of our citizens, whether it's for race, or sex or religion or any other reason. We should not discriminate and so we stand with our LGBT brothers and sisters in legalizing same-sex civil unions in Georgia."
Todd Robinson:
"Being a Christian and I stand on my Christian principles that we should safeguard the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. However, society is becoming more diverse and we can't control who people fall in love with. I think we need to move forward to civil unions with same-sex partners and allow them the same privileges and rights of entering into contracts."
Branko Radulovacki:
"I am a person of strong faith. I am a Christian. At the same time I believe in a separation of church and state. And I strongly believe that the federal government, or any state or local government, should not be discriminating against any group, whether it's based on gender, race or sexual orientation."
Nunn didn't respond to WTVM on air, but provided this statement to the station:
"Marriage has traditionally been decided by the states, and I support that process. In addition to being a legal commitment, marriage is also a sacrament. I would oppose any proposal that required a church to act outside its beliefs. Personally, I believe that all Americans should have the opportunity to share in the commitment and responsibility that my husband and I have shared for the past 12 years."
