At 99 years old, Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, is revered for his forward-thinking approach to social justice, human rights, and environmental conservation. His legacy reflects a man who was ahead of his time, championing progressive ideals long before they gained widespread acceptance. This is visible in his support for gay rights, too. During his presidential campaign in 1976, he pledged to sign the Equality Act, an amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Act aimed at preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation. In 1977, he welcomed the first gay delegation to the White House. He actively opposed California’s Proposition 6, which sought to prohibit gays and lesbians from teaching in schools. Additionally, he became the first Democratic president to endorse gay rights in the party’s platform in 1980. This devout born-again Christian openly stated that he sees advocating for LGBTQ+ rights as fully consistent with the teachings of Jesus Christ. A meme showing Carter’s advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights resurfaced in the public eye this month via Reddit’s MadeMeSmile forum. The viral quote was from an interview Carter had with the Huffington Post in 2012. He said, “Homosexuality was well known in the ancient world, well before Christ was born, and Jesus never said a word about homosexuality.” This interview occurred amid intense debates on LGBTQ+ rights in Washington, which coincided with President Obama’s public endorsement of same-sex marriage.
