Candidates Face Off

ADOPTIONObama Supports equal adoption rights and said
that he will work to “extend equal treatment in our
family and adoption laws.”

McCain Told The New York Times he
doesn’t believe gay people should be allowed to adopt
children and later said he supports adoption by two-parent,
“traditional” families.

“DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL”Obama Wrote on his website that we should
“repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t
tell’ and demonstrate that the most effective
and professional military in the world is open to all
Americans.” Recently said he would work with
military leaders to repeal the ban by consensus.

McCain Believes “don’t ask,
don’t tell” is working and has said in
the past, “It would be a terrific mistake to even
reopen the issue.” He adjusted that stance in an
interview with ABC News and later in the Washington
Blade interview, saying, "I promise to give full
consideration to any legislation that reaches my desk.
On 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,' I’m going
to defer to our military commanders. So far they have
told me it’s working. I’m willing to have
the policy reviewed to make sure that’s the case, but
at the end of the day, I’m going to rely on the
commanders who will be impacted by a change in the
law."

HATE CRIMESObama Cosponsored the Matthew Shepard Local Law
Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which would add
crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity
to those covered under the federal hate-crimes law.

McCain Opposed expanding hate-crimes
legislation to include sexual orientation in 2000, 2002, and
2004. Wasn’t present for the 2007 vote.

IMMIGRATIONObama Supports the Uniting American Families
Act to allow U.S. citizens or permanent residents to sponsor
their same-sex foreign partners for immigration to the
U.S.

McCain Opposes the UAFA.

HIV/AIDSObama Supports the Ryan White Act, the
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and
comprehensive sex education that includes information
about HIV and AIDS.

McCain Supports PEPFAR and has consistently
backed the Ryan White Act but in 1995 voted for an amendment
to prohibit funding from being used for
“encouragement of homosexuality or intravenous
drug use.” Supports abstinence-only sex
education