In a collaborative effort, The Bloomington Beacon, The Word, Indiana Equality Blog, Reality Magazine, The Letter, and bloomingOUT submitted 13 questions to each of the 2008 Democratic Presidential Candidates.

Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama returned the following responses.

Senator Hillary Clinton

1. While certainly not single issue voters most of us in the gay community are concerned with our own personal welfare and that of our families. What legislation would you be willing to support to improve life for us, especially with regard to national health insurance with coverage for all — single, married and domestic partners alike? Also, do you see companies that do offer healthcare and other benefits to same-sex partners as contributing positively to the current economic situation in the United States? If so, what will you do to encourage more of this private sector positive behavior?

   I am a proud original cosponsor of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligation Act, which would grant the same benefits (including health insurance) to domestic partners of federal employees that are currently offered to employees’ legal spouses. As president, I will push to pass this into law.

   The best evidence of what I would do to improve the lives of LGBT Americans is what I have already done. As a United States Senator, I have proudly co-sponsored the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, in addition to the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligation Act. We will also put an end to the failed policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice – the traits that define our men and women in uniform – have nothing to do with sexual orientation. I have also championed the Early Treatment for HIV Act, which expands access to vital treatment options for low-income individuals living with HIV, and fought to fully fund the Ryan White CARE Act. I also push for the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA) in New York, which was signed into law.

   We have so much work to do. When I am President, we will work together to make sure that all Americans in committed relationships have equal benefits and that loving same sex couples are not automatically disqualified from adopting children in need.

   Finally, as President, I will use the bully pulpit to encourage the fair and equal treatment of all Americans no matter who they are or who they love.

2. Do you see a repeal to the mis-named Defense of Marriage Act in the next 20 years and would you support or work for such a repeal? Do you support marriage or civil unions with all the benefits of marriage for our community? Should this issue be dealt with on a federal level or do you believe these are state's rights issues the federal government should stay out of?

   I support full equality of benefits, rights, and responsibilities for individuals in loving, stable, same sex relationships, and believe that civil unions are the best way to achieve that goal. As president, I will work to ensure that all Americans in committed relationships have equal benefits – from health insurance and life insurance, property rights, and more. I support repealing the provision of DOMA that may prohibit the federal government from providing benefits to people in states that recognize same sex marriage. I strongly support ensuring people in stable, long-term same sex relationships have full equality of benefits, rights, and responsibilities. The DOMA was helpful in defeating the Federal Marriage Amendment because it enabled us to build a bi-partisan coalition that believed this issue ought to be left to the states and that discrimination did not belong in our constitution.

3. The issue of gender identity is one some in the gay community feel needs to be addressed. Would this group also be covered by plans you would propose?

   I support the fair and equal treatment of transgender Americans, including a Hate Crimes law and ENDA that are fully inclusive. I do not believe anyone should be victimized or discriminated against because of who they are or who they love.

4. Currently federal hate crime laws do not cover sexual orientation or gender identity. Would you support the addition of these to the existing 1964 law?

   I believe that hate crimes undermine the fundamental principle upon which our nation was founded, that all men and women are equal. I will strengthen law enforcement and prosecution of discriminatory acts of violence against gays, lesbians, and transgender individuals. I am a co-sponsor of the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act and as president, will sign it into law.

5. Do you feel too much religion has been infused into government by the current administration? As president what (if anything) would you do to restore the now often-breached barrier between church and state which has been used to deny gays and lesbians equal rights with increasing regularity?

   Separation of church and state is one of the fundamental principles upon which our country is founded. I will respect that divide in every aspect of my Administration while also honoring people’s religious views. I strongly believe that LBGT individuals should have access to the same rights, responsibilities, and benefits as other Americans. As president, I will enact legislation to end discrimination in the workplace, to strengthen hate crimes enforcements, to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, to provide benefits for domestic partners of federal employees, and more. I believe we can make significant progress on these issues, but it starts with getting George W. Bush out of office.

6. New treatments have improved the quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS, but they are expensive and not available to everyone who needs them. Do you support increased funding for the Ryan White CARE Act and / or more funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and research? Where would these funds come from?

   With strong Presidential leadership and smart investments, we can significantly reduce the number of new infections, develop treatments that turn HIV/AIDS into a chronic but manageable condition, and expand research aimed at finding an eventual vaccine. I have proposed a comprehensive plan to fight HIV/AIDS at home and abroad, which can be accessed here: [CLICK HERE].

   My plan includes doubling the HIV/AIDS research budget within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to $5.2 billion annually, including the U.S. contribution towards finding a vaccine. My American Health Choices Plan will ensure that all Americans living with HIV/AIDS have access to care, and I will extend Medicaid eligibility to low-income Americans living with HIV by the end of my first term.

   I will also increase funding for the Ryan White Care Act, and enact the Early Treatment for HIV/AIDS, which expands access to vital treatment options for low-income individuals living with HIV. I am the chief co-sponsor of this legislation in the Senate.

   I believe that education is key to preventing HIV infection among young people in the first place. That’s why I will end the Bush administration's abstinence-only policy, and instead, fund evidence-based HIV/AIDS prevention programs that teach young people to delay having sex as part of a comprehensive prevention message.

   We must also address the disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS among minority communities. African Americans account for almost 50% of new infections, and the rates of infection in the Latino community remain high. We need to increase funding for the Minority AIDS Initiative and support the prevention and treatment efforts of minority-run community based organizations. I will invest funds to provide housing and other supportive services to people living HIV/AIDS.

   I want to increase federal funding for substance abuse treatment, which often leads to high-risk behavior that can lead to infection. By taking steps to crack down on substance abuse and help users seek treatment, the chance that people will contract HIV can be greatly reduced.

   Finally, I will bring all federal efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS into a single comprehensive national strategy that that will allow for better cooperation and more efficient and effective allocation of resources so that we can stop and reverse the increase in HIV infection.

7. What, if anything, will you do to stop what some see as the persistent undermining of women's rights with regard to keeping abortion safe and legal? How would you put an end to the on-going undermining of Roe vs. Wade by conservatives?

   On the 35th anniversary of the Roe decision, I announced a plan that reinforced my commitment to protecting a woman’s right to make the most fundamental decisions about her life and health and laid out a comprehensive agenda for reducing unintended pregnancy and enhancing access to reproductive health care. At the time, I said that when I’m President, I will appoint judges to our courts who understand that Roe v. Wade isn’t just binding legal precedent, it is the touchstone of our reproductive freedom, the embodiment of our most fundamental rights, and no one - no judge, no governor, no Senator, no President - has the right to take it away. My entire agenda for protecting Roe v. Wade and improving access to high-quality reproductive health care can be accessed here: [CLICK HERE].

8. If a state has taken the steps to recognize same sex couples for purposes of state-based benefits, rights, privileges and responsibilities, such as California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, should the federal government recognize the state’s legal recognition of such couples and families for purposes of federal benefits and tax treatment?

   Yes. I support full equality of benefits, rights, and responsibilities for individuals in loving, stable, same sex relationships. I would like to see a comprehensive review to look at everything that is discriminatory in the tax code or in any other aspect of federal law. As President, I will work towards eliminating those discriminatory provisions.

9. Would you support the Uniting American Families Act, which would enable American citizens to petition for immigration sponsorship for a same-sex partner and require the INS to treat those applications equally with those filed by straight couples?

   I'm fighting to ensure our immigration policies respect and reunify families that have been waiting for years. I believe that committed same sex couples should receive the same rights, responsibilities and benefits as other couples, including through our immigration policies. I do have some question about how to implement this policy successfully, but I am confident those questions can be addressed.

10. Would you support repeal of the “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy and allow gay, lesbian and bisexual soldiers the right to serve openly in the military?

    Yes. As President, I will work to repeal DADT by partnering with high-profile military leaders, such as former Joint Chiefs chairman John M. Shalikashvili and Retired Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, the first woman to achieve the rank of three-star general in the Army, who have called for repeal of the law. And I will stand with soldiers like retired Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the first American to be seriously wounded in Iraq, who is a shining example of why this law no longer makes sense.

    I know that courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice – the traits that define our men and women in uniform – have nothing to do with sexual orientation. I’m concerned that the military is discharging people with critical skills – including desperately needed Arabic language skills. This is a matter of national security, and I will fix it.

    I am committed to building the political will to overturn this outdated policy that is resulting in two dismissals a day at a time when our military can not afford to lose a single service member. Over the last seven years in Congress, I have built relationships with members of Congress and senior officials in the military through my work on the Armed Services Committee. I intend to reach out, explain my reasoning, and build a coalition of supporters and an effective strategy.

    I wish the opposition would listen to Barry Goldwater, an icon of the American right and an outspoken supporter of gay rights, which he considered consistent with his conservative principles. As he said “you don’t need to be straight to fight and die for your country. You just need to shoot straight.”

11. In your view, does a history of anti-gay or anti-abortion bias disqualify a candidate for service on a federal court? What about the Supreme Court?

    I will appoint individuals to the courts who share my judicial philosophy and my view that the constitution protects every American’s fundamental right to privacy and to equal protection under the law. I take very seriously the responsibility of appointing individuals, especially those will serve out life-long appointments. I spoke out against the nominations of Samuel Alito and John Roberts to the Supreme Court and predicted that their confirmations would erode the constitutional rights afforded by Roe v. Wade. My fears have been realized with the Carhart v. Gonzales decision, which marked a dramatic departure from four decades of Supreme Court rulings that upheld a woman's right to choose and recognized the importance of women's health.

12. Would you support and sign a bill or executive order to extend federal benefits, including health insurance, to the domestic partners of federal employees?

    I firmly believe in full equality of benefits for same sex couples in committed relationships. Gay and lesbian people who work in the federal government should receive the same health insurance and other employee benefits of married couples. That is why I am an original cosponsor of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligation Act, which would grant the same benefits, including health insurance, to domestic partners of federal employees that are currently offered to employees’ legal spouses.

13. Does the United States have an obligation to advocate for an increase in the human rights for lesbian and gay people in countries such as Iran where one can be sentenced to death for even self-identifying as gay?

    I would strongly advocate for the fair treatment of lesbian and gay people throughout the world. Indeed, this would be part of American foreign policy in my administration. There are a number of gross human-rights abuses amongst countries with which we have relations and those that we do not. We must be vigilant and outspoken in our total repudiation of those kinds of actions and do everything we can, including using our leverage on matters such as aid, to change the behavior so we can try to prevent such atrocities from happening.

Senator Barack Obama

1. While certainly not single issue voters, most of us in the gay community are concerned with our own personal welfare and that of our families. What legislation would you be willing to support to improve life for us, especially with regard to national health insurance with coverage for all — single, married and domestic partners alike? Also, do you see companies that do offer healthcare and other benefits to same-sex partners as contributing positively to the current economic situation in the United States? If so, what will you do to encourage more of this private sector positive behaviour?

   I have proposed a universal health care plan that would prohibit excluding people based on pre-existing conditions and would drive down the cost of health care by $2,500 for the typical family.

   I am a co-sponsor of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act. This bill provides domestic partnership benefits – including health insurance benefits – to all federal civilian employees on the same basis as spousal benefits. With more than half of the Fortune 500 offering health care benefits to their employees, it is long past time for the federal government to do the same with respect to its employees. By acting as a model employer, the federal government can set an example that displays to businesses across the country that a policy of non-discrimination in the provision of health benefits is not only the right thing to do, but also good for productivity and employee satisfaction. I have also co-sponsored legislation that would end unequal federal tax treatment of employer-provided health benefits to domestic partners.

2. Do you see a repeal to the mis-named Defence of Marriage Act in the next 20 years and would you support or work for such a repeal? Do you support marriage or civil unions with all the benefits of marriage for our community? Should this issue be dealt with on a federal level or do you believe these are state's rights issues the federal government should stay out of?

   My personal view is that it makes more sense for states to implement equal rights for gay couples through civil unions. Marriage has always been an issue that has been left to the states, and I’d leave it to the states to decide whether to call it a “civil union” or a “civil marriage.” Whichever path they choose, states should be treating gay and lesbian couples equally. And I’d leave it to religions to decide, as they always have, whether or not to recognize such unions. My denomination – the United Church of Christ – has chosen to recognize same-sex unions, but I respect the rights of other religions to make a different choice.

   What’s important to me – and what should be important to any president – is making sure that the federal government is not discriminating against anyone. Right now, it doesn’t matter if a lesbian or gay couple is married, in a civil union, or a domestic partnership. Federal law discriminates against all of them, across the board, treating gay couples as if their relationships didn’t exist and didn’t matter. The federal government does not create marriage or civil unions — that’s a job for states — but we must give committed same-sex couples equal rights under federal law. Thousands of employers, including half of the Fortune 500, have figured out how to treat gay couples equally, and the federal government can, too. That’s why I oppose DOMA and support its full repeal. As president, I will work with national and local LGBT groups, members of Congress, and others to put in place a strategy to finally do just that. It’s important to remember, as I mentioned earlier, that we can’t ignore the public awareness/education task that will also be at hand. We are going to have to have a national conversation to try to show the American public what happens to LGBT couples who are trying to adopt, who are struggling with a heavy tax burden, and who are being denied hospital visitation as a result of this discriminatory law; and we will similarly have to ensure them that, as a matter of well-settled law, no state will be required to recognize another state’s marriage if DOMA is repealed. I think if we do those things, we will have enough support to erase this discriminatory law from the books in the next 20 years.

3. The issue of gender identity is one some in the gay community feel needs to be addressed. Would this group also be covered by plans you would propose?

   Throughout my eleven years in public office, I have fought to secure inclusion of LGBT Americans in our laws. I co-sponsored as a freshman legislator and repeatedly through my tenure in the Illinois State Senate a fully inclusive bill that prohibited discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity, extending protection to the workplace, to housing, and to places of public accommodation. In the U.S. Senate, I have publically called for a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. And my own campaign reflects my commitment to fully-inclusive nondiscrimination policies – our workplace nondiscrimination policy includes both sexual orientation and gender identity.

4. Currently federal hate crime laws do not cover sexual orientation or gender identity. Would you support the addition of these to the existing 1964 law?

   Yes. I am an original co-sponsor of the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which would expand the definition of a hate crime to include those crimes perpetrated because of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability.

5. Do you feel too much religion has been infused into government by the current administration? As president what (if anything) would you do to restore the now often-breached barrier between church and state which has been used to deny gays and lesbians equal rights with increasing regularity?

   I have been outspoken in my views about the role of faith in the public square. I am a committed Christian. And I believe strongly in the separation of church and state – a foundational principle that protects the church as well as the state. But I have said repeatedly that our values should express themselves not just through our churches or synagogues, temples or mosques; they should express themselves through our government.

   I reject the use of appeals to religion to deny equal rights to any group of Americans. That’s why I support civil unions and other laws geared to advance the cause of LGBT equality in this country. And I have taken this message of LGBT equality to a diverse range of audiences that includes our nation’s institutions of faith. In January, I had the privilege to speak from Dr. King’s pulpit at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where I urged the congregation to live up to King’s dream of the beloved community in part by embracing our gay brothers and sisters. In 2006, I brought a similar message to Rick Warren’s Saddleback Valley Community Church, where I rejected the argument that HIV/AIDS has fallen on so many of our LGBT brothers and sisters as some sort of punishment for “sin.” I will continue to speak out against discrimination and divisiveness, and work to bring all of us together.

6. New treatments have improved the quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS, but they are expensive and not available to everyone who needs them. Do you support increased funding for the Ryan White CARE Act and / or more funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and research? Where would these funds come from?

   The next president will have to implement a comprehensive plan to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In preventing the spread of infection, we must not force ourselves to choose between values and science. Abstinence education should always be a core part of any strategy to curb sexually transmitted diseases. We also need to support common sense approaches. Age-appropriate sex education should include information about contraception. The JUSTICE Act – pending in the Congress – would combat infection within our prison population through education and condom distribution. Local governments can protect public health through similar measures. The federal government can provide funds for the development of anti-HIV gels, creams, tablets or rings that women could use to protect themselves from infection. I introduced the Microbicide Development Act to bolster the development of this method of prevention. I also believe we need to lift the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. And we need a president willing to confront the stigma – too often tied to homophobia – that continues to surround HIV/AIDS and prevents far too many from seeking testing. I have been outspoken about this stigma and the need for testing (Michelle and I took a public HIV/AIDS test in Kenya), and will continue to speak out as president.

7. What, if anything, will you do to stop what some see as the persistent undermining of women's rights with regard to keeping abortion safe and legal? How would you put an end to the on-going undermining of Roe vs. Wade by conservatives?

   Throughout my career, I have consistently championed a woman’s right to choose, and have earned 100% ratings from pro-choice groups throughout my tenure in the Illinois State Senate and the United States Senate. When South Dakota passed a law banning all abortions in a direct effort to have Roe overruled, I was the only candidate for President to raise money to help the citizens of South Dakota repeal that law. When anti-choice protesters blocked the opening of an Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic in a community where affordable health care is in short supply, I was the only candidate for President who spoke out against it. And I will continue to defend this right by passing the Freedom of Choice Act as president.

   Moreover, I believe in and have supported common-sense solutions like increasing access to affordable birth control to help prevent unintended pregnancies. In the Illinois state Senate, when Congress failed to require insurance plans to cover FDA-approved contraceptives, I made sure those contraceptives were covered for women in Illinois. In the U.S. Senate, I've worked with Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) on a bill that would make birth control more affordable for low-income and college women, and introduced the Senate version of Representative Hilda Solis’ bill to reduce unintended pregnancies in communities of color. As President, I will improve access to affordable health care and work to ensure that our teens are getting the information and services they need to stay safe and healthy.

   I believe we have to move past a debate that has played to the extreme ends of the political spectrum and has stifled real discussion. Where we can find common ground, we should. For example, I believe we can all agree that we must work to prevent unintended pregnancies. We can all agree that we must reduce STDs – that we simply cannot have 1 in 4 teenage girls having an STD and that we can’t tolerate rising HIV/AIDS infection rates. And we can all agree that we must do more to support pregnant women and new mothers, and we should promote adoption and strengthen our foster care systems. But we also need to instill values in our children at home, to teach them about the sacredness of sex.

8. If a state has taken the steps to recognize same sex couples for purposes of state-based benefits, rights, privileges and responsibilities, such as California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, should the federal government recognize the state’s legal recognition of such couples and families for purposes of federal benefits and tax treatment?

   Yes. That is precisely why I support repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.

9. Would you support the Uniting American Families Act, which would enable American citizens to petition for immigration sponsorship for a same-sex partner and require the INS to treat those applications equally with those filed by straight couples?

   I strongly support equal treatment for LGBT bi-national couples under our immigration laws. Equal treatment means equal rights, equal obligations, and equal standards. I would sponsor legislation that accomplishes all three goals. I believe that changes need to be made to improve the Uniting American Families Act so as to clarify the "permanent partner" standard that will be applied to same-sex couples -- both to ensure fully equal treatment and to minimize the potential for fraud and abuse of the immigration system. I have worked to improve the current version of the bill to this end.

10. Would you support repeal of the “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy and allow gay, lesbian and bisexual soldiers the right to serve openly in the military?

    Yes. As president, I will work with Congress and place the weight of my administration behind enactment of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which will make nondiscrimination the official policy of the U.S. military. I will task the Defense Department and the senior command structure in every branch of the armed forces with developing an action plan for the implementation of a full repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. And I will direct my Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to develop procedures for taking re-accession requests from those qualified service members who were separated from the armed forces under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and still want to serve their country. The eradication of this policy will require more than just eliminating one statute. It will require the implementation of anti-harassment policies and protocols for dealing with abusive or discriminatory behavior as we transition our armed forces away from a policy of discrimination. The military must be our active partners in developing those policies and protocols.

11. In your view, does a history of anti-gay or anti-abortion bias disqualify a candidate for service on a federal court? What about the Supreme Court?

    I will look to nominate judges who have a demonstrated capacity to provide all Americans with a fair hearing. In the U.S. Senate, I have strongly opposed nominees – such as that the President’s nomination of Leslie Southwick to the Fifth Circuit – that have a record of hostility toward civil rights and a disregard for equal rights for minorities, women, gays and lesbians. If a potential candidate has a clear history of hostility toward certain groups or has displayed a willingness to place ideology and/or partisanship above faithful application of our laws, then that candidate should not serve on our courts.

12. Would you support and sign a bill or executive order to extend federal benefits, including health insurance, to the domestic partners of federal employees?

    Yes. I am a co-sponsor of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act. This bill provides domestic partnership benefits to all federal civilian employees on the same basis as spousal benefits.

13. Does the United States have an obligation to advocate for an increase in the human rights for lesbian and gay people in countries such as Iran where one can be sentenced to death for even self-identifying as gay?

    I believe the United States has an obligation to promote human rights for all people throughout the world. Under my administration, the United States will be a leader in ending persecution and human rights abuses against LGBT people around the World.