Schwarzenegger Performed Two Same-Sex Weddings as Governor
In what he dubbed “the scoop” of his interview with Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes, former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed he officiated over two same-sex weddings as governor during the brief five-month period in 2008 when marriage equality was legal in the state.
The former Republican governor and movie star, who served as California’s chief executive from 2003 to 2011, told Stahl in an interview that aired last night that he has never had anything against gay people, despite vetoing marriage-equality legislation in September 2005.
“I always said that I have nothing against people doing what they want to do. If a couple wants to get married, they should get married,” Schwarzenegger said. “I personally always said that marriage is between a man and a woman, but I would never enforce my will on people. I always want people to make that decision. If they want to get married, let them get married.”
Schwarzenegger said he married his chief of staff, Susan Kennedy, at a ceremony held in the governor’s office, and another gay staffer. Schwarzenegger has previously described Kennedy as a “cigar smoking lesbian.”
Although Schwarzenegger has said he believes marriage is between a man and a woman, he did not campaign for Proposition 8, which was approved by California voters in 2008 and amended the state’s Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. California courts have struck down the amendment, which has been petitioned for review by the Supreme Court.
WATCH Schwarzenegger discuss marriage equality here:
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