Rick Perry clarified his remarks calling New York’s legalization of gay marriage “fine” in an interview today.
“I probably needed to add a few words after that ‘it’s fine with me,’” Perry told Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, “and that it’s fine with me that a state is using their sovereign rights to decide an issue. Obviously gay marriage is not fine with me. My stance hasn’t changed.”
“My comment reflects my recognition that marriage and most issues of the family have historically been decided by the people at the state and local level,” Perry added.
Pointing to his promotion of Texas’s Defense of Marriage Act, Perry said he had governed as a traditional marriage advocate.
He also noted that he has “long supported” the Federal Marriage Amendment.
“That amendment … defines marriage as between one man and one woman, and it protects the states from being told otherwise. And it respects the right of the people in the state by requiring that three-quarters of the states vote to ratify. It’s really strong medicine,” Perry said.