Dueling Advocates Make Mainstream Appeals on Marriage Equality (2004)

Amidst a series of controversies about the legality of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and other states in 2004, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer invited two advocates with differing views to discuss the same-sex marriage issue. Both parties seem to be making arguments designed to appeal to the American mainstream rather than their own already-convinced partisans. Matt Daniels, president of the Alliance for Marriage, avoids using overtly religious messaging, and instead focuses on what he calls a “common sense” definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman. Cheryl Jacques, president of the Human Rights Campaign, uses language often deployed by social conservatives, arguing that gay marriage “made families stronger” by giving rights and benefits to same-sex couples.

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer | NewsHour Productions : Washington, DC. | February 13, 2004 | This video clip and associated transcript appear from 28:11 - 34:10 in the full record.