Gerald Ford: Gay Couples Deserve Same Rights as Married

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,37667,00.html

Tuesday, October 30, 2001

WASHINGTON — Former President Gerald Ford believes the federal government should treat gay couples the same as married couples, including providing equal Social Security and tax benefits.

That's the word he gave to a Detroit News reporter in a phone interview.

"I think they ought to be treated equally. Period," Ford told Deb Price, an openly lesbian columnist who focuses on gay rights issues.

Ford, 88, is the highest-ranking Republican to say publicly that he supports spousal benefits for gay couples. 

Penny Circle, Ford's spokeswoman, confirmed that the former president's comments arose during a conversation with Price about Bill Sipple, the passerby who saved Ford's life during an assassination attempt in September 1975.

Price wrote that Ford was maligned by the gay community for not doing enough to show his appreciation to Sipple because Sipple was gay.  Ford said that's not true.

"I wrote him a note thanking him... As far as I was concerned, I had done the right thing and the matter was ended. I didn't learn until sometime later — I can't remember when — he was gay," Ford said. 

"I don't know where anyone got the crazy idea I was prejudiced and wanted to exclude gays," he said.

Ford said he supports federal legislation to outlaw anti-gay job discrimination and applauded President Bush for appointing three people who are gay to office, including Michael Guest, who took his partner with him when he left earlier this year to serve as U.S. ambassador to Romania.

"That is a big step in the right direction," Ford said.

Kevin Ivers, a spokesman for the Log Cabin Republicans, said Ford's statements are an example of "yet another Republican leader that is standing up for gay equality."

Ivers said Republicans will eventually learn that it is "inevitable" gay people will be included in all areas of public life.

Ford said that it wouldn't have mattered to him if he had gay assistants "as long as they were competent."

Ford also expressed hope that his Republican Party will continue to expand its outreach to gay voters.

"I have always believed in an inclusive policy, in welcoming gays and others into the party. I think the party has to have an umbrella philosophy if it expects to win elections."

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