Rick Santorum backtracks on his Bruce Jenner views

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The notoriously anti-gay politician previously said “If he says he’s a woman, then he’s a woman.”

Bruce Jenner, the Olympic gold medal winner, recently came out as trans.

Republican former Senator Rick Santorum said shortly after: “My responsibility as a human being is to love and accept everybody. Not to criticize people for who they are.

“I can criticize, and I do, for what people do, for their behaviour. But as far as for who they are, you have to respect everybody.”

However, he went on to clarify his position for anyone who thought he actually respected Bruce Jenner’s gender.

He said on Concord News Radio: “If Bruce Jenner says he’s woman then I’m not going to argue with him.

I know what anatomically and biologically he is. That doesn’t change by himself identifying himself.

His genetics and DNA isn’t changing, but out of respect, I’m not going to argue if Bruce Jenner’s a woman with Bruce Jenner.

“I’m going treat him with dignity and respect and that’s what I said.”

He also posted on Facebook shortly after his original comments, to say that they were “meant to express empathy not a change in public policy”.

Mr Santorum, who is widely expected to run for Preisdent, recently said he would not attend the same-sex wedding of a friend or loved one.

 

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