News
Obama vs. Romney on LGBT issues
Candidate stances on same-sex family rights, military equality, employment and more

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Obama are making their final push in the days before Election Day (Blade file photo by Michael Key)
The Washington Blade breaks down some of the most frequently cited LGBT issues and where each Presidential candidate stands.
MARRIAGE EQUALITY
OBAMA: SUPPORTS
In May, President Obama ended his 19-month “evolution” and expressed his support for marriage rights for gay couples.
ROMNEY: OPPOSES
Mitt Romney has said he opposes same-sex marriage as well as civil unions that offer the same legal benefits of marriage. He’s campaigned on support for a Federal Marriage Amendment, saying states shouldn’t have different rules with respect to marriage.
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DOMA REPEAL
OBAMA: SUPPORTS
Obama endorsed legislation that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act known as the Respect for Marriage Act. The Obama administration also no longer defends the Defense of Marriage Act in court and has said laws related to sexual orientation should be subjected to heightened scrutiny.
ROMNEY: OPPOSES
Romney supports DOMA and has pledged to resume defending the law in court should he win the White House.
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“DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL”
OBAMA: OPPOSES
In 2010, Obama signed legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which was lifted from the books nearly a year later following certification. Still, openly transgender service is prohibited and the Pentagon has yet to make administrative changes to afford certain benefits to gay service members with same-sex partners.
ROMNEY: SUPPORTS
Romney once expressed support for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” but his most recent statement on the issue, made December 2011, is that he doesn’t plan to return to that policy now that the law has been repealed.
UNITING AMERICAN FAMILIES ACT
OBAMA: MOSTLY SUPPORTS
The Obama administration has taken steps to ensure bi-national same-sex couples can stay together in the United States — most recently issuing a memorandum saying foreign nationals without legal status in same-sex relationships should be low priority for deportation cases. The White House has suggested Obama wants to include language for bi-national couples in comprehensive immigration reform. Obama has yet to endorse the Uniting American Families Act, but has expressed support for its general principles.
ROMNEY: UNKNOWN
Romney hasn’t publicly addressed the issue of bi-national same-sex couples, but has said he supports no amnesty for undocumented immigrants and wants to impose a policy where immigrants without legal status will want to self-deport.
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EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT
OBAMA: SUPPORTS
Obama is a long-time supporter of ENDA, but the White House said he won’t issue at this time an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
ROMNEY: UNKNOWN
Romney’s last stated position on ENDA was in 2007 when he said states could implement workplace non-discrimination policies related to sexual orientation, but he doesn’t support federal legislation. He hasn’t addressed the legislation over the course of the 2012 campaign.
Hungary
New Hungarian prime minister takes office
Péter Magyar’s party defeated anti-LGBTQ Viktor Orbán last month
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar took office on Saturday.
Magyar’s center-right Tisza party on April 12 defeated then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP coalition. Vice President JD Vance less than a week before the election traveled to Budapest, the Hungarian capital, and urged Hungarians to support Orbán.
Orbán had been in office since 2010. He and his government faced widespread criticism over its anti-LGBTQ crackdown.
The European Commission in 2022 sued Hungary, which is a member of the EU, over the country’s anti-LGBTQ propaganda law. The European Union’s top court, the EU Court of Justice, on April 21 struck down the statute.
The EU while Orbán was office withheld upwards of €35 billion ($41.26) in funds to Hungary in response to concerns over corruption, rule of law, and other issues.
Hungarian lawmakers in March 2025 passed a bill that banned Pride events and allowed authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify those who participate in them. MPs later amended the Hungarian constitution to ban public LGBTQ events.
Upwards of 100,000 people last June defied the ban and marched in Budapest’s annual Pride parade.
“Congratulations to [Péter Magyar] on becoming prime minister of Hungary,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on X.
“This Europe Day, our hearts are in Budapest,” she added. “The hope and promise of renewal is a powerful signal in these challenging times.”
“We have important work ahead of us,” noted von der Leyen. “For Hungary and for Europe, we are moving forward together.”
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Congratulations to Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-Del.) on being honored with this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health. Amy Nelson, senior director of Legal Services, said, “Congresswoman Sarah McBride is working to make healthcare accessible to all, and this award recognizes her support of healthcare as a human right. Our legal program supports families facing unprecedented challenges to stay healthy and safe – families that Congresswoman McBride champions with a deep understanding of the issues they face and the legislative expertise of how to support them.”
McBride, in a press release, said, “I am honored to accept this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health — an organization that has spent 40 years doing vital work to ensure every person can access the dignity of care. In the wealthiest and most developed nation on earth, the ability to receive care should not be a matter of luck—it should be the law of the land. I am proud to be recognized as a partner in this work and to support Whitman-Walker Health in their mission to build a healthier society for all.”
Congratulations also to Wes Drummond who will join Clear Space Theatre Company in Rehoboth Beach, Del., as its third artistic director. Managing Director Joe Gfaller said, “This is an exciting moment of growth for Clear Space as we welcome Wes to join our remarkable team. I am confident he will be an excellent partner as we work with our entire staff, board, and committed team of volunteers, to ensure Clear Space can achieve its full potential in pursuit of our mission to unite and enrich our community through every production on stage, and every arts-based learning program we offer throughout our community.”
On accepting the position Drummond said, “I’m honored to join Clear Space Theatre Company as artistic director, and beyond excited for what we’re about to create together. Clear Space has established itself as a vital and vibrant part of the cultural life of coastal Delaware, and I feel incredibly fortunate to step into this next chapter alongside such a passionate and dedicated team. Rehoboth Beach is a place defined by creativity and community, and I look forward to listening, learning, and building meaningful relationships across the region in the months ahead. My vision is to help Clear Space continue to grow as a bold, forward-thinking, cultural force, that champions fearless storytelling.”

Drummond served in leadership roles at Duluth Playhouse in Duluth, Minn., from 2021 to 2026, including four years as executive director followed by one year as executive producing artistic director, guiding the organization through a period of significant transformation and stability in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a director, he has worked extensively in New York City, Chicago, and at regional theaters across the country, directing both musical theater and plays with a focus on storytelling that bridges classical works with contemporary perspectives. He has collaborated with leading figures in the industry, including Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus, and Tony-nominated director Michael Greif. He is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Wes earned his MFA in directing, Penn State University, where he studied under Tony-nominated director, Susan H. Schulman.
Virginia
Va. Supreme Court invalidates Democrat-backed redistricting plan
Voters narrowly approved new congressional districts last month
The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a Democrat-backed redistricting plan that voters approved last month.
Ten of 11 of Virginia’s congressional districts favor Democrats in the plan that passed by a 51-48 vote margin in last month’s referendum.
The Human Rights Campaign PAC is among the groups that support it. The court by a 4-3 majority invalidated the referendum results.
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