Hillary Clinton Says Parenthood Influenced Her Support for Marriage Equality

clinton_hillary_hrcFormer Secretary of State Hillary Clinton finally announced her support for marriage equality yesterday in a video for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). She not only cited her experience fighting for LGBT rights around the world, but also commented, “Like so many others, my personal views have been shaped over time, by people I have known and loved” —including her daughter, Chelsea.

Clinton noted that she and her husband attended Chelsea’s wedding to “the love of her life” a few years ago. “I wish every parent that same joy,” she said. “To deny the opportunity to any of our daughters and sons solely on the basis of who they are and who they love is to deny them the chance to live up to their own God-given potential.”

I love that Clinton doesn’t mention whether Chelsea married a man or a woman. In this context, it doesn’t matter.

She joins President Obama and Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) as politicians whose children have influenced their decisions to support marriage equality.

I particularly admire Clinton’s request that as we debate issues of LGBT equality at home and in public, “we do so in a spirit of respect and understanding.” A diplomat to the core. Watch below:

Scroll to Top