White House adviser Kellyanne Conway touted President Trump’s record on gay rights Friday, telling journalists Trump was the first president to take office as a supporter of legal same-sex marriage.
“I’m old enough to remember the 2008 campaign where Hillary and Obama were arguing with each other about who was more in favor of traditional marriage,” Conway said on the White House driveway. “It wasn’t so long ago. He is the first president to start as president approving of gay marriage.”
Conway spoke moments after Trump published tweets urging other countries to decriminalize homosexuality, in recognition of June as gay pride month. That effort is led by the gay U.S. ambassador to Germany, Ric Grenell.
Trump tweeted: “As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month and recognize the outstanding contributions LGBT people have made to our great Nation, let us also stand in solidarity with the many LGBT people who live in dozens of countries worldwide that punish, imprison, or even execute individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation. My Administration has launched a global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality and invite all nations to join us in this effort!”
The tweets are an evolution away from Trump’s arms-length approach to gay pride month during his first two years in office, when Trump abandoned Obama’s formal proclamations and avoided public comment.
Conway avoided commenting on Trump’s reimposition of a military ban on transgender members, but she said that Trump feels strongly about decriminalizing homosexuality and that “it is something we discussed publicly and privately over a number of years.”
“It is just a disgrace what happens to people based on their sexual orientation, particularly around the globe. Including countries where, by the way, a lot of media companies film their movies,” Conway said.
As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month and recognize the outstanding contributions LGBT people have made to our great Nation, let us also stand in solidarity with the many LGBT people who live in dozens of countries worldwide that punish, imprison, or even execute individuals….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2019
Trump’s tweets closely follow his statements in a Fox News interview that he approves of Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg campaigning with his husband.
“I think that’s something that perhaps some people will have a problem with. I have no problem with it whatsoever. I think it’s good,” Trump said of the South Bend mayor’s marriage.
Homosexuality was legalized in all 50 states by a 2003 Supreme Court ruling. In 2015, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
Former President Barack Obama opposed legal recognition of gay marriages until 2012. Clinton ended her opposition in 2013.
….on the basis of their sexual orientation. My Administration has launched a global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality and invite all nations to join us in this effort!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2019
