Texas Governor Rick Perry has taken it
back, he's not fine with gay marriage.
While attending an event last week
associated with the Republican Governors Association's annual
convention in Aspen, Colorado, Perry, a potential presidential
candidate, said passage of a gay marriage law in New York was the
state's business.
“That's New York, and that's their
business, and that's fine with me,” Perry said.
The comment drew criticism from social
conservatives, prompting a Perry spokesman to announce that the
governor supports a federal constitutional amendment that would ban
gay marriage, a
position that mirrors Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann's
views.
In
an interview Thursday with Tony Perkins, the president of the
Christian conservative group Family Research Council (FRC), Perry
revised his original comments.
“I probably needed to add a few words
after that 'it's fine with me,' and that it's fine with me that a
state is using their sovereign rights to decide an issue,” Perry
said. “Obviously, gay marriage is not fine with me. My stance
hasn't changed.”
“I believe marriage is between one
man and one woman. My record as governor of Texas reflects a very
strong commitment to defending traditional marriage. Including those
efforts to pass the Texas Defense of Marriage Act.”
“To not pass the federal marriage
amendment would impinge on Texas', and other states, right not to
have marriage forced upon us by these activist judges and special
interest groups,” Perry added.