Cindy McCain Says Gay Rights Won’t Be Partisan Issue in Next Presidential Election

Sen. John McCain's wife predicted to TheWrap that her husband will soften opposition to gay marriage

Cindy McCain believes that gay rights will no longer be a partisan issue by the next presidential election, the wife of former Republican presidential nominee and U.S. Sen. John McCain (R- Ariz.) told TheWrap on Monday at TrevorLive in New York.

“You’re going to see a major turn,” McCain said. “By the next presidential election I think this will be an issue that will be very much agreed on by both parties.”

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McCain was honored with the Trevor Hero Award at an annual fundraiser in New York City for The Trevor Project. The organization offers support and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. McCain received her honor from her daughter Meghan McCain, who has been an outspoken supporter of gay rights.

McCain was at the event as an ambassador for the wing of the GOP that believes that opposition to gay marriage is becoming an untenable position given that recent polls show public support is shifting in favor of allowing same-sex couples to wed.

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It is not a view that her husband shares, however. After Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) announced his support for gay marriage last March, Sen. John McCain told media outlets that he did not believe he would change his opposition to the practice.

“I respect anyone else’s decision and we all learn in life and grow and mature,” he told TheHill. “I have changed my position on other issues in my life, but on this one, I had not contemplated changing my position.”

Despite those statements, Cindy McCain said she was convinced that her husband will eventually endorse gay marriage.

“He hears from his own daughters and his own children and from me a little bit about this,” she said. “But it’s also okay to disagree, but do it in a manner that’s respectful.”

“We have different views,” she added. “We have raucous dinner table conversations and we encourage that. In fact you have to be tough to survive at our table.”

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