Al Gore Backs Gay Marriage

Former Vice President Al Gore is making his opinion clear. He believes gay & lesbian American citizens should have the same right to marry as heterosexuals. During a speech captured on video, Gore said he does not understand why gay marriage is "considered to be a threat to heterosexual marriage."

The video, posted on Gore's web site Current TV, features Gore sharing his views on equal rights for homosexuals during a recent speech. "I think that gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women, to make contracts, to have hospital visiting rights and to join together in marriage," Gore stated.

With current frontrunner Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama saying as little as possible on the subject of gay marriage, the former Vice President's comments could be construed as a jab against their avoidance of the issue. Clinton, Obama and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards have voiced support for increased rights for GLBT people, but have refused to actually endorse equal marriage rights. Edwards' wife Elizabeth is in support of same-sex marriage, but she is not the one running for President.

In the video, Gore voiced disappointment in those who are not supportive of equal marriage rights. "I don't understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage to allow it by gays and lesbians. Shouldn't we be promoting that kind of faithfulness and loyalty to one's partner regardless of sexual orientation?"