At the Republican primary debate for the Idaho gubernatorial race, long-shot candidates Harley Brown and Walt Bayes joined incumbent Butch Otter and his main challenger Sen. Russ Fulcher to cover a range of topics, which included same-sex marriage.

Idaho Politician's Talk Same-Sex Marriage

Same-sex marriage is currently a hot topic in Idaho, as the state recently ruled that it should be made legal in the Gem State, though it’s expected that the ruling will be fought and potentially overturned. Of the four candidates at the podiums, it was just one – Brown – who wanted same-sex marriage to remain legal in Idaho.

Brown – wearing a leather vest and a red, white and blue tie tucked into his black button-down with cigars jammed into its pockets – began his argument by painting a vivid picture of how he’s been discriminated against by cops as a biker. “[Bikers] are cop magnets,” he said, “Like a playboy bunny wearing a miniskirt gets hit on all them time.” The gay community, like the biker community, according to Brown, shouldn’t face discrimination.

“I used to drive taxis in Boise for 20 years, at night, and I’ve picked up my fair share of the gay community and they have true love for one another,” said Brown. “I’m telling you, they love each other more than I love my motorcycle.”

“They’re just as American as a Medal of Honor winner,” Bayes added. “And liberty and justice for all, equal protection under the law. I’m glad that judge made the decision, and I’m glad that they want to get married and live like that. I know I’m not really talking like a Republican, but…”

As for Bayes, a father of 16 who is running on an anti-abortion platform, he said, “My main loyalty is to God Almighty and what he says is what I go by, and this is part of the Bible.” Bayes, through his long white beard, then proceeded to read a lengthy passage of scripture that clocked in at about a minute.

Otter and Fulcher’s more predictable answers revolved around taking the same-sex marriage case to the Supreme Court if they have to in order to keep marriage between a man and a woman in Idaho. They both, however, made a point of saying that they do not support discrimination in their state.