Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson this week inched closer to running for president and jumped into the debate over homosexuality.
On Monday, Carson formed an exploratory committee, which will allow him to raise money. The Wall Street Journal first reported the potential Republican presidential candidate’s move. Carson, the only African-American in the potential Republican presidential field, placed fourth in a straw poll at last week’s Conservative Political Action Conference meeting.
On Wednesday, Carson said in a television interview that homosexuality is a matter of choice.
‘Absolutely,’ Carson told CNN’s Chris Cuomo on CNN’s ‘New Day.’
‘Because a lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight -- and when they come out, they're gay,’ Carson said. ‘So, did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question.’
Carson said his prison example ‘thwarts’ the idea that homosexuality isn’t a choice. He also said the issue of whether to allow same-sex marriage should be decided by the states, and not by federal courts.
‘Why do gay people want to get married? Why do they want to get married,’ Carson said. ‘Because they want to have various rights – property rights, visitation rights. Why can’t any two human beings, I don’t care what their sexual orientation is, why can’t they have the legal right to do those things? That doesn’t require changing the definition of marriage.’