Where every presidential hopeful stands on gay marriage

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday heard historic arguments on gay marriage, a major topic for presidential candidates in the 2016 season, and the Court is reportedly on the cusp of declaring it legal nationwide.

The arguments focused on two questions: whether bans currently in place are constitutional and if they are, whether they may refuse to recognize out-of-state marriages. The decisions could lead to a legalization across the nation.

Fifty-two percent percent of Americans support allowing couples of the same sex to marry, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. The case has become a major issue in the 2016 presidential contest, with Republicans balancing their rapidly changing political environment surrounding same-sex marriage against their party’s base.

Here’s where the official presidential hopefuls stand on same-sex marriage:

Hillary Clinton

Clinton’s campaign logo — a blue and red “H” — changed Tuesday morning to rainbow-flag colors. In 2013, she made her support official by saying, “I support marriage for lesbian and gay couples,” in a taped statement for the Human Rights Campaign. This is an evolution from statements she made in 2000, saying “… marriage is as a marriage has always been, between a man and a woman.”

Ted Cruz

As of five days ago, Cruz very much still opposed gay marriage. Under “Life, Marriage, Family” on Ted Cruz’s campaign website, he notes his efforts to defend Texas’ marriage laws “when a renegade state court attempted to grant a divorce to a same-sex couple who had obtained a civil union in Vermont.”

Marco Rubio

In big, bold letters, Rubio’s campaign website says, “There is no federal constitutional right to same sex marriage.” Rubio also declares that the institution of marriage “should remain in our laws recognized as the union of one man and one woman.”

Rand Paul

Rand, like many other members of the GOP, doesn’t endorse same-sex marriage but believes the issue should be left to the states. He recently reiterated this, adding, “people ought to be treated fairly under the law.” Paul has said he personally believes in marriage strictly between a man and a woman.

Jeb Bush

After same-sex marriage became legal in Florida, potential candidate Jeb Bush said in a statement that “we have to respect the rule of law,” according to CNN. “It ought be a local decision,” he said. “I mean, a state decision.” Bush ultimately backs “traditional marriage.”

Contact Kristen DeSilva at 702-477-3895 or kdesilva@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @kristendesilva