While the economy was the key topic
Wednesday night during a televised debate between California Senator
Barbara Boxer and her Republican challenger, Carly Fiorina, the
candidates also addressed gay rights.
Fiorina said during the hour-long
debate held at St. Mary's College that she believes marriage is
between one man and one woman, but expressed support for recognizing
gay and lesbian couples with civil unions.
“[A]ctually, the position I've
consistently espoused is consistent with that of our president and a
vast majority of senators in the U.S. Senate,” Fiorina said.
In defending a federal gay marriage
ban, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and California's gay
marriage ban, Proposition 8, the former HP chief suggested that she's
in favor of laws that limit marriage to heterosexual unions.
Referring to a federal judge's recent
ruling that struck down Proposition 8 as unconstitutional, Fiorina
said it was “not appropriate” for a judge to overrule the will of
California voters who approved the measure in 2008.
On gay troops serving openly in the
military, Fiorina said she supports efforts to repeal “Don't Ask,
Don't Tell.”
Boxer, a strong supporter of gay
rights, once again reiterated her support for marriage equality.
“The only way to get the rights that
married couples have is to go for marriage equality,” she said.
“And I'm glad to say, I believe people are coming around to seeing
it.”
During the Republican primary, gay
GOP group GOProud endorsed Fiorina over Tom Campbell, a moderate
Republican who supports gay marriage.
While conceding that gay marriage is an
important issue, Jimmy LaSalvia, the group's executive director, said
Fiorina “is the candidate conservatives can trust” on issues such
as taxes and foreign policy.