Social issues will be a focus for Michigan Rep. Justin Amash if he is elected president.
In a Friday telephone interview, Amash, who recently announced a presidential exploratory committee for the Libertarian Party’s nomination, said he would advocate for protections of transgender and gay people.
“I would protect transgender Americans under the protections that exist for sex,” told Forbes.
Amash, who defected from the Republican Party before voting for President Trump’s impeachment, said he believes the definition of “sex” can be expanded beyond what it originally meant in codified law. “Sometimes, we have to catch up to the law. In other words, the law is written, and the law will be fairly broad, and the public and the courts are not actually caught up to what is actually in the text,” Amash said.
The congressman also endorsed gay marriage, but he noted that he believes the government should not be able to license marriage certificates.
“I’ve always held the view that the government should not be a part of marriage. I think that marriage should be a private contract or a religious ceremony and not something that the government is a part of. But if the government is going to be a part of marriage for straight couples, then it must also allow others to get married,” Amash said.
When asked to weigh in on the recent allegation of sexual assault leveled against Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, Amash called for “due process” so the issue can be “fairly deliberated.”
“Everyone deserves due process, and the people making the accusations deserve to be heard. And we should have a fair process for everyone where both sides, both parties, are having their concerns addressed, and have their issues fairly deliberated,” Amash said.
As both Biden and Trump have faced allegations of sexual misconduct, which they have denied, Amash stressed he would be a candidate free of such scandals.
“I have nothing in my closet,” Amash said.
