05/12/2012

Washington– Mitt Romney reiterated his opposition marriage equality for same-sex couples again this morning while delivering commencement remarks at Liberty University, an anti-gay school that bans openly LGBT students from attending. Romney made his remarks just days after President Obama announced his historic support for marriage equality.  A USA Today/Gallup poll released yesterday shows that a majority of Americans – and an even stronger majority of independent voters – approve of the President’s position on marriage equality.

HRC President Joe Solmonese released the following statement after Romney’s remarks:

“This morning, Mitt Romney spoke out against marriage equality at a school that does not even allow openly LGBT students to enroll. It is unbelievable that in this day in age – when a majority of Americans support marriage equality and a majority of Americans explicitly approve of President Obama’s leadership on marriage equality – Mitt Romney instead is taking up the mantle of far-right anti-gay organizations who seek to demonize LGBT families. Mitt Romney continues to insist he’s against discrimination, but his remarks on marriage equality and the company he keeps paints a very clear and a very disturbing picture of the anti-LGBT forces that are driving Romney’s campaign.”

Among those honored at Liberty’s commencement this morning was S. Truett Cathy, founder of the fast-food chain Chick-fil- A, which has made significant financial contributions to anti-LGBT organizations. Romney made his remarks hours after Rick Santorum called on the GOP nominee to use marriage equality as a “potent weapon” in his campaign.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.