THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

'I believe most Americans believe that equal rights under the law is something that's part of America,' Dean said in a conference call with LGBT media. 'I really do think that if you talk about the issue of civil unions in the way that Americans can understand—which is … equal justice under the law—which is inscribed in the front of the United States Supreme Court, this issue is not only not a liability, it's actually a strength. Because people know that I'll stand up and do what I think the right thing is and I don't care what the polls say.' Dean does not support a federal marriage law because he said such a law would be unconstitutional, just as he believes DOMA is unconstitutional. He said the federal government should recognize gay unions but stopped short of saying gays should be allowed to marry. Dean believes once DOMA is repealed, organizations can mount a successful case against the Constitutionality of states refusing to recognize the civil union of another state.

While taking criticism from the right for his stance against the war in Iraq, Dean voiced his concerns about national security. 'I would get rid of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' he said. '[It] does not serve the security issues of this country.' He cited the fired Arabic linguists-in-training, who were ousted from the military because they're gay, as a way in which security is harmed by DADT.

Dean, as a physician, has been clear on the fact that he does not believe medical care should be legislated. A medicinal marijuana bill was defeated in Vermont and Dean said he might veto such a national bill if he became President because no other drug has been allowed to circumvent medical review by way of legislation. Medicinal marijuana has been suggested as a comfort to those suffering from AIDS. Dean said he's not convinced by the minimal research done on the subject. He said that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should regulate marijuana, like any drug. On the AIDS front, Dean said he supports funding $29 Billion over six years to fight global HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Domestically, he supports public education campaigns to 're-educate young gay men, in particular, who are now reverting to sexual practices that … I had hoped had permanently disappeared,' he said.

'We believe our country's been hijacked by the far right and that the President represents a group of people … whose values are different from the values of most Americans,' Dean said. 'I thought the President putting his arm around Rick Santorum and saying how inclusive he was, was pretty despicable.'

Democratic and Republican strategists believe a viable candidate must be attractive to the south. Dean said he appeals to southerners because of his stance on shoring up the economy. Others have suggested Dean's pro-gun and pro-death penalty stances will help his chances in the south as well.

Roll Call, the newspaper on Capitol Hill, reported that some Democrats are worried about Dean's increasing popularity. Dean won a 'Straw Poll' at the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention—the poll showed Dean winning by a four-to-one margin over his next closest opponent, Sen. Kerry.