Ohio Gov. John Kasich's team: Governor actually opposes civil unions among same sex couples

COLUMBUS, Ohio - One day after Gov. John Kasich told NewsChannel5 that he supports civil unions among same sex couples, his office has offered clarification to say the governor was using “the term civil union loosely.”

Kasich spokesperson Rob Nichols said in a statement “the governor’s position is unchanged. He opposes gay marriage and opposes changing Ohio’s Constitution to allow for civil unions. He’s opposed to discrimination against any Ohioan and, while he may have used the term ‘civil union’ loosely in this instance, he recognizes the existing rights of Ohioans to enter into private contracts to manage their personal property and health care issues.”

The clarification came after Kasich was asked Wednesday, in response to Sen. Rob Portman’s reversal of his position on same sex marriage, if he could imagine a time when he might change his position.

Kasich responded : “I really can't see one, I mean I talked to Rob (Portman) and encouraged him and you know if people want to have civil unions and have some way to transfer their resources, I'm for that but I don't support a gay marriage. And I’m not angry I just think marriage is between a man and a woman but if you want to have a civil union that's fine with me.

“I’ve got friends that are gay and I’ve told them look (same sex marriage) is just not something I agree with and I’m not doing it out of a sense of anger or judgment, it’s just my opinion on this issue.”