Wesley Clark details pro-gay stances [View All]

Planet Out
Wesley Clark details pro-gay stances
Wed Nov 12, 8:10 PM ET

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Christopher Curtis, Gay.com / PlanetOut.com Network

SUMMARY: On Wednesday the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) published its questionnaire with Democratic presidential candidate and retired Gen. Wesley Clark (news - web sites).
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HRC said on its Web site that its questionnaire represents the first time Clark talked about a range of GLBT issues other than the military.


In the questionnaire Clark wrote that he supported same-sex families. "Same-sex couples," he wrote, "deserve the same federal benefits, rights, privileges and responsibilities as opposite-sex couples." Clark went on to write that he supports the Permanent Partners Immigration Act (PPIA), a bill which would allow a partner in a same-sex couple to immigrate to the United States -- something opposite-sex couples can already do. Clark also indicated he supported the rights of gays and lesbians to adopt.


According to the HRC, Clark publicly signaled support for the first time for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act. ENDA would outlaw job discrimination while the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act would add sexual orientation to the 1968 law which covers hate crimes based on race, religion and national origin.


On HIV (news - web sites)/AIDS (news - web sites) issues, Clark indicated he would: help low-income Americans get better access to treatment by supporting the Early Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA); support those living with the disease by increasing funding for the Ryan White CARE Act; and, ensure prevention methods are comprehensive, age-appropriate and based on scientific methods.