A 63-page research document assembled by her 2006 gubernatorial opponent Tony Knowles and published today by Politico details Sarah Palin’s socially conservative positions and includes these points on gay rights:
Palin Opposed Supreme Court Ruling Giving Same-Sex Couples Benefits: Asked if she would support the Alaska Supreme Court’s ruling that spousal benefits for state employees should be given to same-sex couples, Palin responded, “No, I believe spousal benefits are reserved for married citizens as defined in our constitution.” [Eagle Forum questionnaire]
Palin Opposed Expanding Hate Crimes Laws: Asked if she would support an effort to expand hate crime laws, Palin responded, “No, as I believe all heinous crime is based on hate.” [Eagle Forum questionnaire]
Palin Said She Supported Ban on Gay Marriage and Denying Benefits to Gay Couples: “Palin said she’s not out to judge anyone and has good friends who are gay, but that she supported the 1998 constitutional amendment [to ban gay marriage]. Elected officials can’t defy the court when it comes to how rights are applied, she said, but she would support a ballot question that would deny benefits to homosexual couples. ‘I believe that honoring the family structure is that important,’ Palin said. She said she doesn’t know if people choose to be gay.” [Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), 8/6/06]
Palin Said She Supported a Constitutional Amendment Overturning Supreme Court Mandate of Benefits for Same-Sex Couples: Asked if she would support a Constitutional amendment to overturn the Alaska Supreme Court decision mandating public employers to provide benefits equivalent to same-sex couples, Sarah Palin responded “yes.” [Alaska Family Council Voter Guide, 8/22/06]
In related news, Jimmy LaSalvia, director of programs and policy for the Log Cabin Republicans, told Reuters in an interview today: “If being anti-gay was a priority for her, we would know about it.”
In other news, Palin was reportedly once a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, which has been pushing since the 70’s for the state’s secession from the United States.
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