Former Minnesota governor and professional wrestler Jesse “The Body” Ventura slammed the proposed Massachusetts amendment banning gay marriage Monday, calling it discriminatory and a violation of human rights.
“We are not the Hetero States of America,” Ventura said, clad in his usual t-shirt and jeans, at a Statehouse press conference.
“The Body” said he does not support an amendment proposed by House Speaker Thomas Finneran and Senate President Robert Travaglini, which would ban gay marriage but allow same-sex civil unions, because it works against the acceptance of diversity.
While temporarily living in the Boston area as a fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics, “The Body” has dived into one of Massachusetts’s most contentious political topics.
“I’m a tough guy,” he said. “I chew on cigars. I live life to the fullest. I don’t like it when I see human rights violated.”
“The Body” challenged legislators to stand up for what he said they ought to believe in: defending their constituents.
“The constitution is there to protect human rights, not to limit them,” Ventura said.
“The Body” also added that he supports allowing gays in the military.
Ventura said he has changed his mind on gay marriage since originally coming out against it. In addition, he addressed whether or not he would run for president in the future.
“I’ve learned to never say never,” Ventura said.
Getting a laugh from the audience, Ventura said that if he did choose to run, he already has his running mate picked out – former basketball star and self-touted aspiring politician Charles Barkley.
“I’m the white Charles Barkley, he’s the black Jesse Ventura,” he said while discussing how they have the same political ideals.
Ventura, a self-described centrist, said centrists take the best from both the right and the left. He also described himself as a libertarian with a lower case “l,” which he said stands for freedom, as opposed to “upper case” libertarians, who he said often advocate anarchy.
There were a handful of state representatives, senators and employees in attendance, including Sen. Jarrett Barrios (D-Middlesex), State Auditor A. Joseph DeNucci and Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein (D-Suffolk).
“We’re absolutely thrilled,” said Arline Isaacson, co-chair of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucasus. “Jesse Ventura is representative of the quintessential version of what most Americans would consider a ‘real man.’ He is a demographic cohort that normally does not support us.”