The four candidates vying for the
Florida Senate GOP nomination oppose gay marriage.
Former Senator George LeMieux, former
state Rep. Adam Hasner, retired Army Col. Mike McCalister and former
Ruth's Chris CEO Craig Miller appeared at a debate on Saturday
co-sponsored by the Christian conservative Florida Family Policy
Council and the West Orlando Tea Party, the Miami
Herald reported.
The candidates mostly agreed in their
opposition to gay marriage, civil unions and gay-inclusive hate crime
laws.
“I do not see the need for hate crime
legislation, every crime is hateful,” said LeMieux. “You don't
need a special category for anyone.”
“I'm opposed to same sex marriage
whether it's in New York or Florida or elsewhere,” Hasner said.
“In every state where the voters have the opportunity, even in
California, they've defended an institution of marriage between one
man and one woman.” (The video is embedded in the right panel of
this page.)
McCalister said he opposes marriage
equality, but added that the states have a right to decide the issue,
echoing a position held by two Republican presidential candidates:
Texas Governor Rick Perry and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann.