However, the so-called Defense of Marriage Act did exactly that. It gave preference in marriage and related Federal benefits to persons with a heterosexual orientation and denied the same to those with a homosexual orientation. Arguing that marriage is defined as a, union of a man and woman as husband and wife, is similar to defining people of color as subhuman as a way of defending the institution of slavery. He also supported preferences to individuals because of their sexual orientation with respect to service in the United States Military. Along with the majority in Congress he is responsible for the Uniform Code of Military Justice that gives preference to those with a heterosexual orientation in the expression of their sexuality.
Some heterosexual behavior is legal and all homosexual behavior is illegal and punishable.
Thus, his statement that he opposed legislation that provided preferences to individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation is false. It could be that he thinks that only Bisexuals, Gay Men and Lesbians have a sexual orientation. The notion of special rights was invented by the radical right as a way to attack all forms of civil rights. It is a lie. They protect fundamentalist Christians as well as ultra Orthodox Jews.