At GOP Debate Kasich Says His Faith Teaches Him To Accept Gay Son Or Daughter – Crowd Cheers

It was a stunning moment and a glimpse into how even Republican voters are changing on same-sex marriage and acceptance of LGBT people.

It was a stunning, shocking, unnerving, and offensive moment, four years ago at a GOP debate when an active duty soldier in the U.S. Army asked a question via YouTube and was booed by the audience because he was gay.

Fast forward to Thursday night, when Fox News host Megyn Kelly asked John Kasich a question about about same-sex marriage, and the Republican Ohio Governor pointed to his faith as a mean to offer “unconditional love” and acceptance to a gay son or daughter – and the audience cheered.

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Granted, it was a hometown audience – the debate was held in Cleveland – but the audience response, and the governor’s response, shows how far some conservatives have come in four years.

Here’s the transcript, via TIME, and below, the video:

KELLY: The subject of gay marriage and religious liberty. Governor Kasich, if you had a son or daughter who was gay or lesbian, how would you explain to them your opposition to same-sex marriage?

KASICH: Well, look, I’m an old-fashioned person here, and I happen to believe in traditional marriage. But I’ve also said the court has ruled —

KELLY: How would you — how would you explain it to a child?

KASICH: Wait, Megyn, the court has ruled, and I said we’ll accept it. And guess what, I just went to a wedding of a friend of mine who happens to be gay. Because somebody doesn’t think the way I do, doesn’t mean that I can’t care about them or can’t love them. So if one of my daughters happened to be that, of course I would love them and I would accept them. Because you know what?

(APPLAUSE)

KASICH: That’s what we’re taught when we have strong faith.

(APPLAUSE)

KASICH: So the issues like that, issues like that are planted to divide us. I think the simple fact of the matter is, and this is where I would agree with Jeb, and I’ve been saying it all along, we need to give everybody a chance, treat everybody with respect, and let them share in this great American dream that we have, Megan. So, look, I’m going to love my daughters, I’m going to love them no matter what they do. Because, you know what, God gives me unconditional love. I’m going to give it to my family and my friends and the people around me.

Watch:

 

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