Arnold Schwarzenegger: ‘I don’t have to be for gay marriage’ — despite carrying them out
California’s former governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has spoken of performing two marriage ceremonies for gay couples during his eight years in office — although he is quick to point out that it doesn’t mean he is for “gay marriage”.
The veteran Hollywood actor and Republican politician told CBS’ 60 Minutes that he carried out the wedding of his former chief of staff Susan Kennedy, who it’s claimed he once referred to as being “a cigar-smoking lesbian”.
When asked by journalist Lesley Stahl “Did you go to the wedding?”
Schwarzenegger replied: “I performed the wedding in the office,” before adding. “I married her in the office — in the governor’s office.”
The 65-year-old continued: “That she happens to love a woman, and I am — a guy that loves a woman, that is two different things. It doesn’t make any difference. She should still have her ceremony.”
But Schwarzenegger adds that doesn’t mean he’s for gay marriage.
“I don’t have to be for gay marriage. I’m for that she [Kennedy] gets the kind of wedding and the kind of ceremony that I had when I got married with Maria [Shriver],” he said.
“I, personally, always said that marriage is between a man and a woman,” Schwarzenegger said. “But I would never enforce my will on people.”
“If they want to get married, let them get married.”
Schwarzenegger’s position on equal marriage went through a dramatic change during his two terms in office.
He vetoed two same-sex marriage bills, once in 2005 and again in 2007.
However, in 2008 Schwarzenegger changed his tune and supported the removal of Proposition 8, the legislation banning same-sex marriage in the state.
