Republicans condemn LGBT aid pledge

Republican presidential candidates have come out in opposition to the Obama administration’s plans to tie foreign aid to protection and rights of a country’s LGBT citizens.

Texan Governor Rick Perry issued a statement attacking US President Barack Obama’s memorandum, issued yesterday, directing the heads of executive departments and agencies abroad to advance the human rights of and ensure the safety of LGBT people.

“Just when you thought Barack Obama couldn’t get any more out of touch with America’s values, AP reports his administration wants to make foreign aid decisions based on gay rights,” Perry said in a statement.

“This administration’s war on traditional American values must stop. Promoting special rights for gays in foreign countries is not in America’s interests and not worth a dime of taxpayers’ money.”

Perry said it was an example of an administration at war with people of faith in this country.

“President Obama has again mistaken America’s tolerance for different lifestyles with an endorsement of those lifestyles. I will not make that mistake.”

Notoriously anti-gay candidate Rick Santorum (pictured) also spoke out against Obama’s memo.

“Obviously the administration is promoting their particular agenda in this country, and now they feel its their obligation to promote those values not just in the military, not just in our society, but now around the world with taxpayer dollars,” Santorum told reporters yesterday.

“He said he’s for traditional marriage, and now he’s promoting gay lifestyles and gay rights, and he’s fighting against traditional marriage within the courts, and I think he needs to be honest.”