The Edwards-Kerry presidential ticket is the most "gay-supportive" in the history of the U.S., the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute has declared. The group's executive director, Matt Foreman – who has vowed to politically "punish," "terrify" and "torture" activists who oppose his organization's agenda – says in a statement the presumptive Democratic ticket is " the most gay-supportive national ticket in American history." The group commented on Edwards' "strong support for key issues important to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and [transgendered]" persons, including supporting nine of 13 key issues of importance to homosexuals. While it enthused over Edwards' opposition to a constitutional amendment protecting marriage, the lobbying group lamented that he "does not support extending equal marriage rights to same-sex couples." Foreman urges Edwards to use his "strong Southern and populist roots to speak out against the ugly, divisive and anti-gay campaigns being waged all across the country in the guise of 'protecting' marriage."
