Cuccinelli: I still believe being gay is "against nature"

Virginia's Attorney General doubled down on prior comments that gays and lesbians are "harmful to society"

Published July 21, 2013 1:46PM (EDT)

At Saturday's debate in the race for Virginia governor, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli did not back down from comments he had made previously attacking gays and lesbians.

Debate moderator Judy Woodruff of PBS Newshour had asked Cuccinelli if he still believed being gay is “against nature" and "harmful to society," the Washington Post reports.

“My personal beliefs about the personal challenges of homosexuality haven’t changed,” Cuccinelli replied.

“The notion that because I believe marriage ought to be protected, because I believe life begins at conception — just like hundreds of thousands of independents and Democrats — this isn’t just me, it isn’t just Republicans,” he continued. “There are lots of Virginians, millions, perhaps, of Virginians, who share my sincerely held beliefs.”

Recently, Cuccinelli has also been touting his ongoing defense of a ban on oral and anal sex in the state, even launching a website that frames the law as cracking down on child predators.


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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2013 Elections Ken Cuccinelli Republicans Terry Mcauliffe Virginia