Republican Candidates On Gay Rights: Where Cain, Bachmann And Other GOP Presidential Hopefuls Stand On LGBT Issues (PHOTOS)

Herman Cain's controversial view of homosexuality as a choice has once again thrust the same-sex marriage and LGBT rights stances of each of the various 2012 Republican hopefuls back into the spotlight.

"I think it's a sin because of my biblical beliefs and, although people don't agree with me, I happen to think that it is a personal choice," Cain, who has also spoken out in favor of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, told talk show host Piers Morgan last week. "I respect their right to make that choice. You don't see me bashing them. I respect them to have the right to make that choice. I don't have to agree with it."

While his comments ruffled more than a few feathers (provoking a particularly memorable response from sex columnist Dan Savage), Cain is not the first potential 2012 candidate to come under fire on gay issues in recent months. Earlier this year, Michele Bachmann -- arguably the most socially conservative of the candidates -- faced allegations that a Christian counseling clinic she co-owned with her husband Marcus offered "reparative" therapy to patients seeking to "cure" their homosexuality.

In addition to Bachmann, candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum have reportedly signed a pledge from the National Organization for Marriage to ban same-sex marriage in the U.S. Constitution if they are elected.

So where do the individual GOP candidates stand on same-sex marriage and other gay issues? Find out below:

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Comments

[Robert Weissman]

02:14 PM on 11/15/2011

I am staunch support of marriage equality and LGBT rights.

hey -I have a question what ever happend to the socially liberal/pro-choice GOP?

[David Christensen]

10:14 PM on 11/02/2011

So you're saying that they are all ignorant, hate inspiring homphobes? Already knew that.

[AudreyLee]

06:54 PM on 11/02/2011

Well, if Newt Gingrich says that gay is wrong, then it must be true.


(sarcasm)

[jjsheets]

03:54 PM on 10/28/2011

The only person here that I agree with is Gary Johnson.. I honestly haven't heard anything else about him, though, so I can't judge him. To all of the others, if they do get elected, this country will be going in the wrong direction. The things that they are saying are offensive to me personally, and I am sure to the entire LBGTQA community as a whole. I hope none of these idiots get elected.

[kyeshinka]

03:15 PM on 10/27/2011

Hate is not a family value.

[Laudano]

09:25 PM on 10/27/2011

Neither is having to put up with the homosexual agenda.

[GDWhiteman]

07:20 PM on 11/02/2011

When the word "agenda" shows up, you can be certain that the writer/speaker has one.

[Jhol7689]

08:22 PM on 12/09/2011

There is no homosexual agenda.They want equality.There concerns lie when a gay teen or child is endangered or kicked out of their home for being gay, people aren't just going to stand back and watch any more, while millions of gay children commit suicide every day and are being bullied. You shouldn't have to put up with anything, if it disgusts you simply look away. They should have the right to show their love openly to their significant other. Homophobia however is an agenda against a community who some happen to wish death on them, torment them, sexually abuse them to "make them straight." What do you think those pray the gay away facilities are? You don't have to accept the homosexual community but they don't need to be murdered or jailed (Like they are in Kansas and Uganda) for being themselves or ridiculed. Especially when it's between two consenting adults. I feel bad for kids who have to put up with parents like you, especially back in the 1970's when they came out and got disowned because of certain beliefs. Fifteen and sixteen year olds can't support themselves on the streets, so how do they get food and shelter? A lot of them had to sell there bodies and were unprotected which lead to some dying of AIDS. It's 2011 and it's still happening today, there trying to prevent that by having you become more open minded about it.

[Atwill]

06:08 AM on 10/27/2011

None of thse Bozos have chance of beating Obama.

[AudreyLee]

06:55 PM on 11/02/2011

They couldn't even beat my pet guinea pig. Honestly. (Not comparing Obama to my guinea pig, just making a point about their incompetency).

[Danimal82]

02:19 PM on 10/26/2011

Read this:

http://www.gop.com/index.php/issues/what_we_believe/

Hypocracy is rampant within the current state of the Republican Party. There seems to be a rift in beliefs and actions... The majority of my family is Southern Baptist, educated, and very conservative. However, they (my father mostlly) find it hard chewing on how me (a highly decorated disabled veteran) have or ever will be a detriment to our country or family. Sure, we have our differrences and respect one another's beliefs. But findamental rights granted in our Constitution are just that... let's not forget the memo about a separation between church and state as well. If you would like to argue the "sacred" nature of marriage, I implore you please check your facts (I have conveniently included a link for resource).

http://marriage.about.com/cs/generalhistory/a/marriagehistory.htm

So to the bigots, the fly by night hate-mongers, and those who would rather stick your head in the sand vs face the winds of change I'll quote my Dad "If anyone wakes up in the morning and the first thing they think of is how my son has offended them by living and defending HIS American Dream... they probably need to re-evaluate their life choices."

[RMS Queen Mary]

12:56 PM on 10/26/2011

Any candidate who has to appeal to a base that consists of PEOPLE WHO HATE THE GAY COMMUNITY MORE THAN THEY LOVE AMERICA doesn't deserve to be elected. And that's pretty much what the Republican base consists of.

[dre31]

12:35 PM on 10/26/2011

All the GOP Contenders should stand on a ledge near a river or ocean and hold hands and jump in together and go down.

[James83z28]

11:22 AM on 10/26/2011

Young boys who are "molested" are done so by gay men who are members of the family or friends of the family 99% of the time KNOW-THE-FACTS !!

[Danimal82]

02:32 PM on 10/26/2011

Sex Panther works 60% of the time every time...

78% of all statistics are made up...

Where did you source your "FACTS?"

[Atwill]

06:10 AM on 10/27/2011

most child molesters are straight men, even those who molest young boys. but the part of it almost always being a family member is right.

[David Silvey]

10:24 AM on 10/27/2011

For Priests it is any orifice in a storm.

[Mingus-cat]

02:40 AM on 10/26/2011

Since the Republican candidates have proven themselves to be unelectable based on just about every other policy that they touch upon, is it any wonder that their take on Gay Rights should be any different? No surprises here.

And... Gary Johnson?

[mangohombre]

11:27 PM on 10/25/2011

First off hello, hi. I'm a Republican. I just wanted to say that not all Republicans are polititians who think they need to preach to theire "base". I think that if you want to love someone do whatever you want to do. What you do in the privacy of your own home, hotel or treehouse is no business of mine or anyones. Live, laugh, love. Enjoy!

[talkstocoyotes]

10:55 AM on 10/26/2011

If you're a Republican, you're part of the problem.

[mangohombre]

03:17 PM on 10/26/2011

And here I thought I was exptending my hand in friendship.

[RMS Queen Mary]

12:20 PM on 10/26/2011

Ummm...we Do live, laugh, love and enjoy. The problem is that we do all of that WITHOUT the same legal protections that our straight counterparts take for granted. And the reason for that is due almost entirely to the efforts of the Republican party, so if you support the Republican party, you are supporting not only your own oppression but that of the millions of hard-working, tax-paying Americans who are also gay. Thanks for that.

[mangohombre]

03:13 PM on 10/26/2011

I read both your replies to my comments and I gotta say... You need to chill out.

[floridaviolinist]

11:11 PM on 10/25/2011

I'm so glad the GOP is recruiting a more diverse group of candidates to chose from. For the first time in history, the GOP is running a black man, a woman, and a homosexual, at the same time. I'm so impressed. good job, GOP.

[Rozanna]

02:48 AM on 10/26/2011

Hahahahaha! And not one of them has a chance in hades of winning. (By the way, that is only a rumor about Rick Perry).

[floridaviolinist]

09:19 AM on 10/26/2011

I was talking about Santorum ;-)

[knight7se7en]

10:59 PM on 10/25/2011

Who's Gary Johnson?

[HouseofMayhem]

07:56 AM on 11/02/2011

Gary Johnson:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Johnson

Was that so hard?

[LoyalBob]

09:51 PM on 10/25/2011

What a cringe worthy group. History will not look back upon them kindly.