Clinton
criticized on same-sex marriage

Although many gays and lesbians consider New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton an ally, the executive director of that state's leading gay rights group says she isn't supportive enough when it comes to same-sex marriage. Alan Van Capelle, head of Empire State Pride Agenda, called Clinton "a complete disappointment" on that issue in a recent memo to board members and urged LGBT donors to refrain from giving money to her U.S. Senate reelection campaign, The New York Times reports. Van Capelle added that he would not "lend my name and sell tickets" for any Clinton fund-raiser sponsored by gay groups. Supporting such events, he said, would be counterproductive. ''It will send a message to other elected officials that you can be working against us during this critical time and not suffer a negative pushback from the gay community,'' he said. ''We have become a community that throws money at politicians, and we demand nothing in return. And that's what we get: nothing. It's the wrong message to send.'' Although Clinton opposes full marriage equality, she is in favor of civil unions for gay couples. And she voted against a proposed federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage when it came before the U.S. Senate. Van Capelle said that he would still vote for Clinton in the upcoming election, saying that she had served New York well "despite her regrettable statements on the issue of marriage for same-sex couples." (Advocate.com)