Paul Ryan Now Supports Gay Adoption, Still Opposes Gay Marriage
By Samantha Abernethy in News on May 1, 2013 6:30PM
Former vice presidential candidate and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced Monday that he has changed his stance and says he now supports the right of gay couples to adopt children. However, Ryan also reiterated his opposition to same-sex marriage.
Ryan was holding a town hall in Wisconsin when a constituent asked him about several gay rights issues. Ryan said, in response to an inquiry on his vote to ban gay adoption in the District of Columbia:
Adoption, I would vote differently these days. That was I think a vote I took in my first term, in 1999 or 2000. I do believe that if there are children who are orphans who do not have a loving person or couple, you know, I think if a person wants to love and raise a child they ought to be able to do that. Period. I would vote that way.
But then in the same breath, he said...
I do believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I mean, we just respectfully disagree with that. I understand that's a tough issue. Where this is going in law is gonna be something to watch this year as the Supreme Court deals with this.
Ryan went on to discuss the question before the Supreme Court regarding DOMA and the question of its constitutionality, and said if it is found to be constitutional, he'd like it to be decided at the state level.
A Madison TV reporter asked the congressman if his reversal on the issue of adoption was recent, and Ryan said he'd felt that way for some time, but hadn't announced it.
Think Progress argues, "Ryan’s opposition to marriage equality actually makes less sense given his support for same-sex adoption." Ryan supports allowing families to raise children without "the same legal protections afforded to opposite-sex parents."
Watch video of Ryan below, via Think Progress.