Rick Santorum has said he opposes gay
marriage because the relationships of gay and lesbian couples do not
benefit society.
The 53-year-old Santorum made his
remarks on Friday during a campaign stop at William Woods University
in Fulton, Missouri.
When asked by a gay man why he didn't
deserve the right to marry, Santorum explained that such
relationships are not beneficial to society.
Santorum said gay people should not be
discriminated against, then added: “But that doesn't mean you're
entitled to special treatment under the law.”
Marriage, Santorum insisted, was not a
right a but privilege.
“It's something that has existed
since the beginning of human history. … Men and women come together
for the purposes of forming a natural relationship as God made it to
be. And for the purposes of having children and continuing that
civilization. It is an intrinsic good. … And as a result of that,
we extend a privilege. We extend certain privileges to people who do
that, because we want to encourage that behavior.”
“Two people who may like each other
or may love each other who are same-sex, is that a special
relationship? Yes it is, but it is not the same relationship that
benefits society like a marriage between a man and a woman.” (The
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