Presidential Candidate Marco Rubio Calls Gay Rights A 'Real And Present Danger' To Freedom

Presidential Candidate Calls Gay Rights A 'Real And Present Danger'

NEW YORK -- Following fine work last week from likely Republican Presidential candidate Jeb Bush (“It’s arrogant to think man-made climate change is real”), fellow White House hopeful Marco Rubio moved to provide this week’s dose of measured Republican orthodoxy by calling gay rights a “real and present danger” to freedom.

In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, the 43-year-old Senator from Florida bemoaned how gay rights advocates make it difficult for Churches to peddle anti-gay messages without it being labeled "hate speech." He said it as if this was a bad thing…

Rubio opined: "We are at the water’s edge of the argument that mainstream Christian teaching is hate speech because today we’ve reached the point in our society where if you do not support same-sex marriage, you are labeled a homophobe and a hater. So what’s the next step after that? After they’re done going after individuals, the next step is to argue that the teachings of mainstream Christianity, the catechism of the Catholic Church, is hate speech. That’s a real and present danger."

Rubio has some form on LGBT rights. When the Florida court finally legalised gay marriage earlier this year, the Senator publically decried the verdict, arguing: "If they wanted to change that law they should have gone to the Legislature or back to the Constitution and try to change it. I don't agree we should be trying to make those changes through the courts."

Remarkably, Rubio is even less progressive when it comes to climate change. "Humans are not responsible for climate change in the way some of these people out there are trying to make us believe,” he recently argued, adding: “I believe the climate is changing because there’s never been a moment where the climate is not changing.”

Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage
Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage(01 of14)
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Supporters in favour of same-sex marriage pose for a photograph as thousands gather in Dublin Castle square awaiting the referendum vote outcome on May 23, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (credit:Charles McQuillan via Getty Images)
Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage(02 of14)
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A lesbian couple link arms around their waists as thousands gather in Dublin Castle square awaiting the referendum vote outcome on May 23, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (credit:Charles McQuillan via Getty Images)
Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage(03 of14)
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Supporters in favour of same-sex marriage celebrate and cheer as thousands gather in Dublin Castle square awaiting the referendum vote outcome on May 23, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (credit:Charles McQuillan via Getty Images)
Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage(04 of14)
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Drag queen artist and Yes campaign activist, Panti Bliss (R) takes a selfie along with a supporter as thousands gather in Dublin Castle square awaiting the referendum vote outcome on May 23, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (credit:Charles McQuillan via Getty Images)
Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage(05 of14)
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A man blows bubbles as supporters for same-sex marriage wait for the result of the referendum at Dublin Castle on May 23, 2015 in Dublin. ( PAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PAUL FAITH via Getty Images)
Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage(06 of14)
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Supporters for same-sex marriage wait for the result of the referendum at Dublin Castle on May 23, 2015 in Dublin. (PAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PAUL FAITH via Getty Images)
Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage(07 of14)
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Irish Senator Katherine Zappone (L) kisses her partner Ann Louise Gilligan as supporters for same-sex marriage wait for the result of the referendum at Dublin Castle on May 23, 2015 in Dublin. (PAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PAUL FAITH via Getty Images)
Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage(08 of14)
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Supporters for same-sex marriage raise a cheer at Dublin Castle as they wait for the result of the referendum on May 23, 2015. (PAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PAUL FAITH via Getty Images)
Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage(09 of14)
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A cardboard cut out of popular television character, Mrs. Brown played by Irish actor Brendan O'Carroll is held high as supporters in favour of same-sex marriage gather in Dublin Castle square awaiting the referendum vote outcome on May 23, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (credit:Charles McQuillan via Getty Images)
Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage(10 of14)
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Supporters in favour of same-sex marriage celebrate and cheer as thousands gather in Dublin Castle square awaiting the referendum vote outcome on May 23, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (credit:Charles McQuillan via Getty Images)
Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage(11 of14)
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DUBLIN, IRELAND - MAY 23: A lesbian couple kiss as thousands gather in Dublin Castle square awaiting the referendum vote outcome on May 23, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (credit:Charles McQuillan via Getty Images)
Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage(12 of14)
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Supporters in favour of same-sex marriage pose for a photograph as thousands gather in Dublin Castle square awaiting the referendum vote outcome on May 23, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (credit:Charles McQuillan via Getty Images)
Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage(13 of14)
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Supporters for same-sex marriage celebrate outside a gay bar in Dublin on May 23, 2015. (PAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PAUL FAITH via Getty Images)
Ireland Votes Yes On Gay Marriage(14 of14)
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Gay couple Michael Barron (L) and Jamie Nanci (R) who were married in Cape Town, South Africa embrace at the RDS count centre on May 23, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (credit:Charles McQuillan via Getty Images)