Clinton on gay marriage: ‘I’ve never seen a faster movement’
By Josh Haggis
Bill Clinton has spoken about the speed with which the US campaign for equal marriage has progressed.
The former US President shared his thoughts on the movement’s momentum during a speech at the Human Rights Campaign’s annual gala this week – and argued that the LGBT community must not let the recent slew of positive court decisions in favour of equal marriage allow room for complacency.
“I’ve never seen a civil rights movement, at least in our country, move as far and as fast as your movement, ever,” said Clinton. “But don’t kid yourself… there are still barriers that need to be brought down.”
He continued: “All over the world there are young people who still have to cower in fear of their governments, their leaders and sometimes their families.”
“We will prevail in a dangerous world if we have the best model of freedom and justice, equality and opportunity, the kind of things people want to be a part of, where everybody can be who they are,” added Clinton.
Same-sex marriage is now legal in 32 out of 50 states thanks to a wave of court decisions this month (October) that have compelled 13 states to overturn their bans on same-sex marriage.