Where Bachmann and Other GOP Candidates Stand on Gay Marriage

GOP presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann attended a non-denominational church service in Iowa on Sunday where the pastor gave a 30-minute presentation that included his church's disapproval of homosexuality, NBC News reported on Monday. Bachmann is already known for being against same-sex marriage, but what of the other GOP candidates? As it turns out, not all GOP presidential contenders are on the same page when it comes to gay marriage. Here is a look at how some of the major GOP presidential hopefuls feel about this hot topic.

JON HUNTSMAN, JR.

Huntsman supports civil unions and other rights for same-sex couples. He does not support same-sex marriage. Former Utah Senate member Scott McCoy, who is openly gay, defended Huntsman for coming out as a supporter of civil unions. "He knows the Utah legislature," McCoy told ABC back in 2009. "He knows the Utah public. I think coming out in favor of a civil union was a courageous act."

RON PAUL

Paul believes that defining marriage should happen at the state level, along with several other hot-button issues, such as abortion. The Advocate reported back in May that the gay conservative political group GOProud thanked Paul for "rightly making the case that marriage and family laws should be decided at the state level, not by the politicians in Washington."

TIM PAWLENTY

Pawlenty is opposed to same-sex marriage. He recently spoke with The Miami Herald about a variety of issues, including gay marriage. He pointed out that when he was a member of the Minnesota legislature, he co-authored the Defense of Marriage Act as defining marriage between a man and a woman. "I support a state and federal amendment to the constitutions defining amendments as such," he told the Herald.

MITT ROMNEY

Romney is not supportive of same-sex marriage or civil unions, but he is in favor of domestic partnership benefits, as well as anti-discrimination laws to protect lesbians and gays in the workplace. He refused to sign a pledge opposing gay marriage last month, however, he did sign a marriage pledge with the National Organization for Marriage to support marriage as a union between a man and a woman (as did Bachmann and Rick Santorum).

RICK SANTORUM

Santorum was in favor of the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004. Had this legislation passed, it would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman at the federal level. Santorum says on his presidential website that freedom to practice faith is "under attack through the redefinition of marriage." In July, Santorum spoke to the Western Conservative Summit in Denver and accused the state of New York for destroying marriage. "States do not have the right to destroy the American family," he said.

VERN WUENSCHE

Wuensche has a series of one-liners on his presidential website, stating his desired outcome for a variety of issues. He makes his views on same-sex relationships perfectly plain under the section titled "American Values." They are as follows: Ban same-sex marriage. Ban civil unions. Ban gay adoption. Pass a Federal Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.