Gay Activists Turn on Hillary Clinton Over ‘Simply Untrue’ Claim About Purpose of Defense of Marriage Act

Hillary Clinton angered several gay activists when she defended the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act as a "defensive action" against Republicans who wished to enact an outright ban same-sex marriage through a constitutional amendment.

According to the Washington Blade, an LGBT newspaper, multiple gay rights activists took to social media after the Democratic presidential candidate defended DOMA and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" — which were both enacted by President Bill Clinton — on MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show."

Clinton's remarks drew ire from David Mixner, a gay rights activist who supported President Clinton before the two clashed over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell;" Josh Kruger, a gay writer and activist; Hilary Rosen, a LGBT activist and Hillary Clinton supporter; and Joe Sudbay, a progressive blogger who got President Barack Obama to say he could "evolve" on same-sex marriage.

The LGBT community should NEVER allow any politican to revise our noble and courageous history for political purposes.

— David Mixner (@DavidMixner)

October 25, 2015

@AdamSerwer It's outright revisionism to claim that DOMA was anything more than a kick in the shins to gay people as a Clintonian tactic.

— Josh Kruger (@jawshkruger) October 25, 2015

@AdamSerwer This doesn't mean it precludes Hillary Clinton from the WH. But really it was nothing more than a tactic leveraging homophobia.

— Josh Kruger (@jawshkruger)

October 25, 2015

@BernieSanders is right. Note to my friends Bill and #Hillary: Pls stop saying DOMA was to prevent something worse. It wasnt, I was there.

— Hilary Rosen (@hilaryr) October 25, 2015

@Berniesanders voted right, did virtually nothing on LGBT. @HillaryClinton not perfect but engaged, & helped alot. https://t.co/vzJnWQk2UP

— Hilary Rosen (@hilaryr) October 25, 2015

@MSignorile don't get why HRC's top lgbt supporters, the ones always quoted, haven't gotten her to back off this revisionism. It's absurd

— Joe Sudbay (@JoeSudbay) October 25, 2015

1/2 Simply untrue that DOMA was signed to stop something worse. This is Clinton (Bill, and now Hillary) revisionism. And it’s not necessary.

— Mike Signorile (@MSignorile) October 25, 2015

The Blade pointed out that while some of Clinton's supporters and LGBT activists are upset about her comments, some have also contended that Clinton has mostly done a lot of good in terms of LGBT issues on her campaign thus far.

If you're trashing Bill Clinton for DADT and DOMA, you have zero understanding of who really hated LGBT Americans 25 years ago.

— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) October 24, 2015

Let us not forget that in 1986, William F. Buckley suggested we should be tattooed.

— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) October 24, 2015

The Blade reported that some circles of LGBT activists have suggested that the former president apologize for DOMA and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," but while Bill Clinton came out against the measures before they were lifted, he has never apologized.

(H/T: Washington Blade)