Charlie Crist Apologizes To Gays

In his first-ever interview with the LGBT press, former (and possibly future) Florida Gov. Charlie Christ repeatedly apologized for supporting his state’s successful constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Via Orlando’s Watermark:

WATERMARK: When you first ran for governor in 2006, you said that a ban on same-sex marriage was unnecessary, but then you signed a petition to place Amendment 2 [banning same-sex marriage] on the ballot…
CRIST: And I’m sorry. I’m sorry I did that. It was a mistake. I was wrong. Please forgive me.

WATERMARK: I appreciate that, but I want to make sure I spell this out in full. After you signed the petition you said Amendment 2 wasn’t an issue that moved you, but then you ended up voting for it, saying you believed in it. Just three years ago, when you were running for the Senate as a Republican, you told CNN that you believed that “marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman.” And just three years ago, when talking about gay adoption, you expressed a belief that traditional families are best…
CRIST: I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

WATERMARK: Well again, I appreciate that. But I think it’s important for you to address this. When you look back at the circumstances, one could come to the conclusion that your shifts in opinion were either politically expedient…
CRIST: They were. They were. And it was wrong. That’s what I’m telling you. And I’m sorry.

Crist goes to say that his anti-gay actions were just him trying to be the “good Republican” that his parents raised him to be.  The dogged Watermark interviewer then calls him out for having no mention of LGBT rights on his campaign website, which Crist vows to change.