Romney's Record on Gays Questioned

Romney's Record on Gays Questioned
By David Brody
CBN News
December 11, 2006

CBNNews.com -- BOSTON -- Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's presidential aspirations may have just taken a big hit.

A letter has surfaced that he wrote in 1994 when he was running for the U.S. Senate. In it, Romney thanks the Log Cabin Club of Massachusetts, a gay Republican group, for its support. He also calls for equality for gays and lesbians.

Citing Kennedy's record of advocacy for gays and lesbians, Romney wrote, "For some voters, it might be enough to simply match my opponent's record in this area. But I believe we can and must do better. If we are to achieve the goals we share, we must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern. My opponent cannot do this. I can and will."

In the letter, Romney also said he supported President Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays serving in the armed forces, describing it as "the first in a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation's military."

Romney has lately been positioning himself as the candidate for family value conservatives in 2008. But President of the Family Research Council Tony Perkins called the letter quite disturbing.

Governor Romney's office, meanwhile, told CBN News today that "Governor Romney believes Americans should be respectful of all people. Over the past four years as governor, Mitt Romney has not implemented new or special rights in this area and he has not advocated or supported any change in the military's policies."