Hillary Clinton announces official support for gay marriage (VIDEO)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers a speech at Dublin City University in the Irish capital on Dec. 6, 2012.
Former US Secretary of State and possible presidential candidate Hillary Clinton announced her official support for gay marriage in a video on the Human Rights Campaign website, bringing to an end any speculation about her stance on the often divisive issue.
A gay rights group, Clinton's 5-minute-long video was posted on the Human Rights Campaign website on March 18th, and saw Clinton express her commitment to gay rights both overseas and abroad, forged during her time as Secretary of State.
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"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," said Clinton in the video, noting that those rights include legal marriage.
"That's why I support marriage for lesbian and gay couples. I support it personally and as a matter of policy and law, embedded in a broader effort to advance equality and opportunity for LGBT Americans and for all Americans," noted Clinton, citing her work abroad, her faith, her devotion to human rights, and her personal relationships.
Clinton called marriage a "fundamental building block of our society," noting her daughter's recent marriage.
Support for gay marriage has become an increasingly standard position for Democratic lawmakers, whose ranks include US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.