'This is cynical politics masquerading as a public policy debate,' said HRC President Joe Solmonese.

WASHINGTON - Republican Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts came out today in support of a discriminatory amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution that would ban equal marriage rights for same-sex couples as well as banning civil unions. This is at a time when Romney has been widely reputed to be considering a run for the Republican nomination for president in 2008. Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese made the following statement today:

"This is cynical politics masquerading as a public policy debate. As the governor considers a run for president in 2008, he has bowed to right-wing pressure to eliminate even the most basic rights for same-sex families in Massachusetts. Same-sex couples have had access to marriage for over a year and recent polling shows that 56 percent of Massachusetts residents support marriage equality. The people of Massachusetts don't want this amendment but Governor Romney and his extremist backers do."