Republican presidential candidate Ben
Carson on Thursday refused to say whether he believes gay men and
lesbians face discrimination.
Carson appeared on CNN to follow up on
remarks he made the night before on Fox News.
Appearing on CNN's New Day
in March, Carson was asked if being gay was a choice.
“Absolutely,” Carson answered.
“Because a lot of people go into prison straight and when they come
out they're gay.”
(Related: Ben
Carson opposed to marriage equality because some inmates turn gay in
prison.)
He later apologized and vowed to no
longer discuss gay rights.
When the subject came up on Wednesday,
Carson told host Brett Baier that he “shouldn't have allowed [his]
emotions” into the conversation and that CNN host Chris Cuomo had
gotten the better of him.
“I was a little bit irritated that he
was equating the whole [gay marriage] issue with the Civil Rights
movement. Because, quite frankly, I didn't remember any times when
there were signs up that says, you know, 'Everybody else here and gay
people have to drink at this fountain,'” Carson said.
On Thursday, CNN host Brianna Keilar
asked Carson: “Do you think that gay Americans face
discrimination?”
“I've made my opinion quite clear on
this issue,” Carson
answered. “I think the constitution protects every single
American. And everybody has equal rights, nobody has extra rights.”
“Can we move on to something more
important?”
“No, you haven't answered my
question,” Keilar replied. “Are gay Americans discriminated
against? … I'm just asking you to clarify your remarks.”
Carson responded that every group faces
discrimination, in particular Christians.
“I wish we would talk more about
that,” he added.