Today, a federal judge announced that he will issue a ruling striking down Ohio’s ban on gay marriage.
Governor Kasich has a long history of supporting discriminatory policies, including Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
Is this still your position Governor?
KASICH CALLED DON’T ASK DON’T TELL ‘GREAT POLICY’
Kasich Supported Don’t Ask Don’t Tell; Bill Discouraging Gays From Joining The Military. In 1993, Kasich voted in favor of DADT, a bill banning gays from serving in the military. According to the Washington Times, the bill “discourages homosexual enlistment in the military and brands homosexuality an ‘unacceptable risk’ to the morale of the armed services.” [HR 2401, Vote #462, 9/28/1993; Washington Times, 10/03/93]
Kasich: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Is A “Great Policy” On Hardball With Chris Matthews in January 1999, when asked if a gay person should be allowed in the military, John Kasich said, “Yeah, I do. Sure, I do… But in terms of the military, you know, we’ve got don’t ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell…’ The president developed that with the Congress. I think it’s–it’s a great policy.” [Hardball With Chris Matthews, CNBC News Transcripts, 1/26/99]
Kasich Wrote Clinton Telling Him To Go Slow On Gays In The Military. The Columbus Dispatch wrote, “Kasich joined all other [Armed Services] committee Republicans in a letter to Clinton Wednesday. It said, ‘We are concerned that your decision to change current Department of Defense policy regarding homosexuals will be made before the American public, Congress or our military have had an opportunity to understand the implications that such a decision might have for the readiness and quality of life of our armed forces.'” [Columbus Dispatch, 1/31/93]
Kasich Said Republicans Shouldn’t Support Gays In Military; It Would Make GOP “Be Mush.” When asked on Crossfire in 2000 why the GOP didn’t support gays in the military, Kasich said that “we’re inclusive, but we don’t want to be mush… on gays in the military, we have ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ We think it’s the best policy.” [Crossfire, CNN, 8/1/00]
KASICH SUPPORTED CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Kasich Supported Ohio Constitutional Ban On Gay Marriage The Columbus Dispatch reported on September 26, 2010 that, “Kasich said marriage ‘is between a man and a woman,’ and he supported the 2004 amendment to Ohio’s Constitution defining it as such.” [Columbus Dispatch, 9/26/10]
Kasich Voted For The Defense Of Marriage Act. In 1996, Kasich voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, which, the Akron Beacon Journal wrote, “define marriage as a heterosexual union only and limit marriage rights for gays and lesbians.'” [HR 3396, Vote #316, 7/12/96; Akron Beacon Journal, 7/13/96]
KASICH FLIP FLOPPED ON CIVIL UNION SUPPORT
After Publicly Stating Support for Civil Unions, Kasich “Clarified” His Position Less Than Three Hours Later: “Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich said he favored civil unions in an interview published Thursday morning, but by Thursday afternoon his spokesman said otherwise. ‘He may have used the term ‘civil union’ loosely in this instance,’ Kasich spokesperson Rob Nichols said in a statement sent to BuzzFeed. ‘The governor’s position is unchanged. He opposes gay marriage and opposes changing Ohio’s Constitution to allow for civil unions,’ said Nichols. ‘He’s opposed to discrimination against any Ohioan and, while he may have used the term ‘civil union’ loosely in this instance, he recognizes the existing rights of Ohioans to enter into private contracts to manage their personal property and health care issues.’” [Buzzfeed, 3/21/13]
KASICH OPPOSES ADOPTION BY GAY PARENTS
Kasich Voted to Deny Adoptions By Homosexual Couples In The District Of Columbia: Kasich Voted Yes On H.R. 4380 (105th): The District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 1999 “Section 150 – Prohibits funds contained in this Act from being used: … to carry out any joint adoption of a child between individuals who are not related by blood or marriage.” [HR 4380,8/3/98 – Roll Call available here]