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THE ISSUES / CIVIL RIGHTS
The Candidates:
• George W. Bush
• John Kerry
• Ralph Nader
• Third Parties
Showdown States:
The Conventions:
• Democratic
• Republican
The Primaries
• The Candidates
• The Delegates
View Results by:
• The Money
• The Issues
• Primary Explainer


<img src="http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/ELECTION/2004/special/president/issues/nav/noflash.byissues.gif" width="622" height="55" border="0" usemap="#theIss">
Editor's note: This chart features brief summaries of candidates' viewpoints on some issues, based on their statements and records. Most candidates have offered more comprehensive explanations of their positions on these and other issues. More information may be found on their campaign Web sites.
Affirmative Action
Gay marriage
Gays in the military
Gay adoption
Hate crime legislation
Supports affirmative action policies, admitted beneficiary
Backs marriage, full rights for same-sex couples
Favors allowing gay men, lesbians to serve openly in military
Supports adoption rights for qualified GLBT couples
Opposes discrimination based on sexual orientation
Supports affirmative action policies
Backs civil unions with full rights; leave "marriage" label for states
End "don't ask, don't tell"; touts UK ban on all sexual misconduct
Notes diversity of families; for equal rights for same-sex couples
Bolster federal protections against hate crimes; ban discrimination
Supports affirmative action policies
No public position, but opposes DOMA and backs civil unions
Favors allowing gay men, women to serve openly in military
Supports adoption by gay men and lesbians
Define racial profiling as discrimination
Supports affirmative action policies
Leave same-sex marriage to states; supports partnership benefits
Favors allowing gay men, women to serve openly in military
Supports adoption by gay men and lesbians
Supports adding sexual orientation to hate crime legislation
Supports affirmative action programs
Backs civil unions, full benefits, but not marriage for GLBT
Favors allowing gay men, lesbians to serve openly in military
Supports adoption by gay men and lesbians
Sponsored past laws; expand federal role over hate crimes
Supports affirmative action programs
Backs equal rights for same-sex couples; opposes marriage
Opposes gays serving openly; says military must decide
Base adoption on child's interests, not sexual orientation
Expand hate crime legislation, extending it to GLBT
Supports affirmative action policies
Against gay marriage, backs benefits, rights for gay couples
Favors allowing gay men and women to serve openly in military
Supports adoption by gay men and lesbians
Expand federal hate crimes legislation, assure equal justice
Supports affirmative action policies; calls them essential
Backs same-sex marriages, with all economic benefits
End ban on openly gay, lesbian, bisexual individuals
Adoption rights for all regardless of sexual orientation
Against all bias; sponsored hate crimes legislation
Supports affirmative action policies
Opposes same-sex marriage; supports domestic partnership laws
Favors allowing gay men, women to serve openly in military
Supports; "Sexual orientation should not be a bar to adoption"
Supports federal hate crimes legislation
Supports affirmative action policies
Backs marriage rights for gays
End ban on openly gay, lesbian, bisexual individuals
Supports adoption by gay men and lesbians
Would add sexual orientation to federal law
Has both opposed and supported affirmative action
Backs constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage
Supports "don't ask, don't tell" policy
Opposes gay adoptions
Opposes expanding federal law to cover sexual orientation
Affirmative Action
Gay marriage
Gays in the military
Gay adoption
Hate crime legislation
<img src="http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/ELECTION/2004/special/president/issues/nav/noflash.byissues.gif" width="622" height="55" border="0" usemap="#theIss">
NOTE
• AG: Attorney General; ANWR: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; CAFÉ: Standards that provide tax and other incentives for consumers to purchase and alternative fuel vehicles; COPS: Community Oriented Policing Program; DOMA: Defense of Marriage Act; GLBT: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered; NCLB: No Child Left Behind; NMD: National Missile Defense.
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