N.H. woman challenges Romney on same-sex marriage  | News | Advocate.com

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June 08, 2007
N.H. woman challenges Romney on same-sex marriage

A New Hampshire woman, frustrated with Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's opposition to same-sex marriage, made a point of telling him about her personal experience.

"I am a gay woman and I have children. Your comment that you just made, it sort of invalidates my family," said Cynthia Fish, a mother of a 6-year-old and 8-year-old. "I wish you could explain to me more why, if we are sending our troops over to fight for liberty and justice for all throughout this country, why not for me? Why not for my family?"

Romney paused, asked Fish about her children, and then praised her.

"Wonderful," Romney said. "I'm delighted that you have a family and you're happy with your family. That's the American way.... People can live their lives as they choose and children can be a great source of joy, as you know. And I welcome that."

But then Romney repeated his view of marriage.

"Marriage is an institution which is designed to bring a man and woman together to raise a child and the ideal setting for society at large is where there is a male and a female associated with the development and nurturing of a child," Romney said.

The former Massachusetts governor acknowledged other scenarios that involve the raising of children.

"There are other ways to raise kids that's fine: single moms, grandparents raising kids, gay couples raising kids. That's the American way, to have people have their freedom of choice," he said. (AP)

© 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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