Source: Philadelphia Gay News, Associated Press, press release
Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said she would defend gay rights as president and eliminate disparities for same-sex couples in federal law, including immigration and tax policy.

Clinton said states such as New Jersey and Massachusetts are extending rights to gay couples "and the federal government should recognize that and should extend the same access to federal benefits across the board. I will very much work to achieve that."

Clinton's comments came in an interview with the Philadelphia Gay News that was posted on its Web site Thursday.

Clinton said she and her husband have many gay friends that they socialize with when they get the chance. "I've got friends, literally, around the country that I'm close to. It's part of my life," she said.

In the exclusive and wide-ranging interview with PGN publisher Mark Segal and Sarah Blazucki, Clinton discusses the option of issuing an executive order or signing statement to end the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, the ban on openly gay servicemembers.

She said, "I have been committed for more than nine years to eliminating 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"

She said she would use executive power to quash the policy "If I were legally able to do it," but added, "So whether the president has authority to do it by executive order or not, I’m not sure."

Asked whether the federal Department of Education should give local school districts and teachers direction on presenting positive LGBT lesson plans, Clinton said, "That’s an area that you can get direction from the federal government but the federal government doesn't have any real authority."

She sad she would "look into that and see if there is some additional guidance that could be given."

The interview touches on issues not yet raised in the presidential nomination process. She discusses IRS filings by LGBT couples, equality in immigration policy, services for LGBT youth and seniors,

She is also the first candidate to address the government-sponsored arrest, torture and murder of gay men in Iran, Iraq, Egypt and other countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Clinton's Democratic rival Barack Obama and Republican John McCain declined the newspaper's invitation for an interview. The paper criticized Obama and highlighted his refusal to talk by leaving a blank space on the front page where his interview would have appeared.

In a press release, Segal blasted Obama for declining the paper's interview request, "Senator Obama's lack of dialogue with the local gay press is disappointing," Segal said. "The local gay press often is to the LGBT community what churches are to the black community."

The paper headlines its web-page story on the Clinton interview, "Clinton talks; Obama balks".

The press release goes on to note that Obama has not granted a formal interview any local gay paper since he spoke to Chicago's Windy City Times during his Senate race in 2004.

Full article: Clinton talks; Obama balks | Philadelphia Gay News
Clinton Says She Will Defend Gay Rights | The Associated Press
Clinton Asked About Executive Order Ending 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' | PGN press release