(CNN) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry stood by his recent comments comparing homosexuality to alcoholism.
Appearing on CNN's "Crossfire" on Wednesday, Perry was asked by co-host Stephanie Cutter whether he believes homosexuality is a disease.
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"I think my position has been fairly clear on that for a substantial period of time," Perry said, pivoting quickly to the economy as a more pressing issue facing the United States.
Christie: Perry is 'wrong' on homosexuality-alcoholism comparison
The focus should be on American jobs, Perry said, "and that is not on these social issues.”
"I think the social issues should be decided state-by-state rather than being something in Washington, D.C. to try to make one-size-fits-all."
At a speech last week in San Francisco, the longtime Republican governor - who ran for the White House in 2012 and is considering another bid in 2016 - was asked whether he thought homosexuality was a disorder.
"I may have the genetic coding that I'm inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that - and I look at the homosexual issue the same way," Perry said during that event, immediately sparking backlash from Democrats and gay rights organizations.
Asked repeatedly Wednesday on CNN about the controversial comparison, Perry did not elaborate further on his views on homosexuality.
"I got asked a question and I responded the way that I have before,” he said.
More from Crossfire: Perry weighs in on U.S. options in Iraq
@ cure it-did you know that all 'cure' programs have failed miserably! 90% cure rate? You must have attended the HouTx convention which claims God will heal you! It was only over a decade behind the times! People who ran those programs & claimed to be cured by them are now retracting those claims! A 'cure' only works if you have a 'condition'! God made gay people & He makes no mistakes!!
Either gay men who have changed their orientation exist or they do not. If there are such men, then there are such men. Denying their lived experience of their own orientation and how it played out would then be just plain irrational. Similarly, to conclude that they could not have changed themselves because other gay men have not or cannot is equally irrational. There's no doubt that what has been done is possible to do, naysayers nowithstanding.
Recall the story of the engineers and the bumblebee. Upon careful consideration of his weight, height, wing size and body type, engineers concluded that the bumblebee could not possibly fly. Luckily, the bumblebee is not engineer. So, too, with those of you who claim that one cannot change one's own orientation. Luckily for them, those who have have not encountered your proofs. The medical and psychological fields are ruled by empirical evidence, not a priori claims which could well have some political basis.
I can just see him with his Cowboy hat in a gay bar. He who protests too much is probably......
i am proud to say that i am a native texan. not because rick perry is governor, far from it. he's one of the worst things that has happened to our proud state! i'm proud to be a native texan because my ancestors settled here when it was part of mexico and they were recruite to be part of stephen f. austin's "old 300". i can promise i WILL be voting for Ms Davis!
Mess with Texas, people!
There is not a pair of eyeglasses in the world that would make this man look intelligent but boy does he try!
Give it a break no one cares about Gays, people are simply putting on a facade because the dumb far left have manage to let Gay rights piggy back on Civil Rights, something the blacks fought for through blood and tears.
The fact that this Republican Governor takes a jab at Gays and then a Democratic Legislature calls out Cantor as alarming "Gay-dars" should make it clear that this Gay Rights push is starting to backfire.
This Texas-sized mental midget may be the answer to things down south but this cave dweller is an embarrassment to the human race much less Americans.
And how many times have Texans voted for this buffoon?
Enough said about that state. Secede already and stop the hypocrisy that is seemingly profound in the T-thuglican party.
Yep..Comments about a person's beliefs about gay issues are the most pressing issue of the day...Great focus again media.
Bill, NY
Grilled over gay comments? What kind of seasoning?
Glitter, of course.
Mike, so true we had GW and now Rick Perry..but people will defend both of them no matter what..
Freud would have a field day with this guy.
A species first, and foremost duty is to maintain the species. We humans accomplish that through reproduction via copulation. It can happen no other way.
If one is born Male, they must like female. If one is born female, they must like Male. No deviation from the plotted course.
He is correct.
What dose this have to do with having a designated driver ?
Rick Perry / Piyush "Bobby" Jindal 2016
There are no environmental regulations in the Bible .
again the republican party shows it's stupidity. This is a party made up of idiots who have no clue what the rest of the world is doing. They fight climate change woman's rights gay marriage with comments only a 5 year old would think of. Im sorry I don't mean to offend 5 year olds. People who believe this nonsense will believe anything this party of morons has to sell.
I expect to see all you liberals over on the Brian Schweitzer (Dem) story comments bashing him equally for his "gaydar" quote.
"I got asked a question and I responded the way that I have before,” he said."
Ah, yes. The Texas' darlin' sharing his knowledge of life .... again.
Its an open field with elections and what do the Republicans do? Head back into the bedroom. Geeze figure it out people!
Ask me my opinion and I will give it to you. It's just that, my opinion! Ask an honest man what his opinion is and he will tell you, not some political mash up but what he really thinks. Is it wrong for him to have a personal opinion that differs from yours? Is it wrong for me to have a non politically correct opinion? You can be gay and decide you need to change just like you can be straight and decide you want to change, what you do and with who is not set in stone, but that's just my opinion and if you don't like it that's just too bad. Oh by the way the human brain is an amazing thing, you can even teach it that pain is so pleasurable that it will get you off, so anything is possible. All you lib nuts need to chill out, dry your eyes and just let people enjoy life with out your drama.
I used to be proud of my degree from texas a&m.
Thanks Rick!
Always a big laugh when some politician double down on something stupid they say.
he is right on dot. If i would have a horse in my barn that is gay. I would have to kill him because he wont reproduce.
Anyone taking Rick Perry seriously at this point is out of his/her mind. He's projecting in this case. It is not a very big secret in Austin that he has had boy toys on the side. Too bad our media is too afraid to call him on it.
, Perry's view are wrong in so many ways, but at least he's consistent and doesn't change his mind
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Well yes.
There's just so mch to admire in someone who no matter how wrong they've been proven to be will NOT change his mind.
Fer sure.