Republican presidential candidate John
Kasich on Monday said that he's not interested in attempting to
repeal the Supreme Court's finding that gay and lesbian couples have
a constitutional right to marry.
Kasich, the governor of Ohio, was
confronted by a student who identified himself as gay at a town hall
at Michigan State University.
The student said that he “faces
discrimination daily and weekly” and pressed the candidate on his
views on same-sex marriage and LGBT protections.
“Let me be clear, I'm for traditional
marriage, but I've been to my first gay wedding,” Kasich responded.
“And I had a great time. And there was great champagne.”
“I don't think that's enough for you
to say you've been to a gay wedding,” the student said.
“Well, we're not changing any laws.
We're not changing. We're not going to allow discrimination on
this.”
“So the Supreme Court upheld marriage
equality,” the student started. “Does that mean you would go out
of your way to protect that right?”
“Look,” Kasich answered, “we're
not changing any laws. The court has spoken. That's the end of it.”
The statement makes Kasich the only
major Republican presidential candidate not campaigning on reversing
or undermining the high court's ruling.