Paul Babeu has said he believes
presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is an ally to the gay community.
Romney, who on Tuesday won primaries in
Michigan and Arizona, is opposed to gay marriage, saying it hurts
children.
“Marriage is primarily not about
adults, but about kids,” Romney told CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer in
2006. “A child and their development and nurturing is enhanced by
access and by the nurturing of two parents of two different genders.”
Speaking to gay weekly The
Washington Blade, Babeu, the 43-year-old conservative sheriff
of Pinal County, discussed his congressional bid and support for
Romney.
Babeu, who acknowledged earlier this
month that he's gay in the course of denying charges that he
threatened to have his former partner deported, said he would back
gay rights measures, including repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act
(DOMA), if elected to Congress.
He went on to contrast Romney and
President Barack Obama, saying neither is perfect on gay rights.
“For all these leaders, we literally
have to demand and advocate for issues, and I believe that effort is
growing, and it's becoming a groundswell nationally. We have to
create an environment in which either President Obama or Mitt Romney
makes a decision that is right and consistent with the Constitution,”
Babeu said.