KUCINICH: When I was a student at Cleveland State University, the head of our drama program there was gay, and his partner -- who is now his life partner; have been together for, you know, 30-some years -- together they had a relationship that was as powerful as any marriage between any two people I've ever seen. It's incredible.

And, you know, we have to understand that in this world two people can be deeply in love, and that if they have that kind of commitment they should be permitted to be married.

Now, to say that you've got to go from state to state to achieve that right absolutely vitiates who we are as a nation.

KUCINICH: We are united states. Our first motto is, "Out of many we are one," and it includes diversity -- diversity racially as well as with respect to sexual orientation.

So we have to live out who we are as a nation. At times that's difficult for us to do. But a leader and a president ought to be the one who helps to bring a compassion to this country and helps heal this country and helps heal the divisions that come up over these issues.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59300-2004Jan6_4.html