• Mitt Romney has created and acquired a reputation for
being the most conservative candidate in the 2008 Presidential
elections not only by taking a tough stand against gay and
lesbian marriage but also opposing most of their petitions
seeking rights for these groups.
 
• Mitt Romney is against the idea of letting gays and
lesbians serve actively in the US Military. In addition, he has
said that he would not support over-turning the 'Don?t ask, don't
tell' legislation.
 
• Mitt Romney has openly opposed same-sex marriage saying
that it is the family which forms the basic foundation of America
and therefore, it needs to be built further, protected and
strengthened instead of being redefined. To this effect, Romney
has expressed support for the Federal Marriage Amendment which
would modify the US Constitution and prohibit same-sex marriage.
 
• Mitt Romney has expressed opposition for civil unions as
well saying that he would want to see marriage limited to being
between a man and a woman. He said he would support neither but
if asked to choose between same-sex marriage and a civil union,
he would choose the latter as being a lesser evil.
 
• Opposing the Supreme Court judgment on the matter, Mitt
Romney strongly feels that same sex marriage would destroy not
only the culture of America but would also irreparably damage the
education system and thereby children. Although he personally
believes that Americans should be respectful of all people and
their sexual orientation, the long standing institution of
marriage should be upheld and respected as being the only
acceptable norm. 

• Romney frequently told Republican audiences that every
child has a 'right to have a mother and father' but also
acknowledged that same-sex couples have a 'legitimate interest'
in adopting children.
		

• All through his 2008 campaign, Barack Obama had been a
staunch supporter of gay rights and had proved that stand by
sponsoring legislation in the state of Illinois which aims to ban
any discrimination which is based on the sexual orientation of a
particular individual. 

• Being a firm believer in gay equality, Barack Obama
supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act which provides
consideration for sexual orientation and gender identity. This is
in response to a personal observation made by Obama that although
many employers extend benefits to the families of their
employees, there are some who still practice discrimination
because of the sexual preference. 

• However, Obama does not support same-sex marriage saying
that it is an issue which should be decided by each of the states
individually by taking into account their existing social
conditions. While he opposes same-sex marriage, he supports civil
unions between same-sex couples.
 
• Reacting to the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy of the
military, Obama has taken the stance that the criteria for
military service should be patriotism towards one's country, a
sense of duty and responsibility and the willingness to serve in
such a service. In such a situation, he is against the present
policy of decommissioning soldiers on the basis of their sexual
orientation as he feels that this is akin to going against the
goals of national defense.
 
• Continuing his role as a protector of children, Obama
believes that a healthy and loving home is the right of every
child and should be granted to him irrespective of the sexual
orientation of the parents. 
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• In January 2008, Obama addressed homophobia in the
African-American community.  He was speaking to 2,000 worshippers
on the eve of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday at one of the
nation?s premier black churches, Atlanta?s Ebenezer Baptist
Church, where King once preached. He stated, ?If we are honest
with ourselves, we'?ll acknowledge that our own community has not
always been true to King?s vision of a beloved community, we have
scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them.