Features

Simon supports domestic partnerships

Staff
Thursday August 29, 2002

LOS ANGELES — Bill Simon, who signed a pledge during the gubernatorial primary stating “domestic partnership” benefits belong exclusively to marriage, told a gay Republican group he supports domestic partnership laws if they’re not based on sexual orientation. 

The GOP gubernatorial candidate also said he would proclaim a Gay Pride Day, as past administrations have done, and promised to uphold a variety of gay-friendly laws and regulations. 

Simon’s responses to the Log Cabin Republicans questionnaire earlier this month prompted angry responses from some conservative backers Wednesday. 

Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition, said he felt “misled and conned” by Simon and his campaign. 

“I spent months with Bill Simon touring Anglo and Hispanic churches where he vowed support for traditional values,” Sheldon said in a statement. “His responses on this questionnaire tells me otherwise.” 

The Campaign for California Families, which circulated the Marriage Protection Pledge that Simon signed, issued a press release titled “Bill Simon’s Gay Agenda” condemning the candidate’s responses as “shocking.”