American Muslims hold diverse views on social issues, ranging from civil rights to abortion to stem cell research. Everyday, new moral issues arise forcing Americans to research the topic and decide where they stand. Civil rights and civil liberties are issues that our nation continues to work on, especially in regards to the intersection with national security. American Muslims have stood in the fight for civil rights and upholding civil liberties alongside Asian Americans, African Americans and the Latino American community.

Social issues remain wedge issues within our nation, but the beauty of our pluralistic society remains that all Americans are ensured a voice when it comes to dealing with social issues.

President Barack Obama:

 1. Civil Rights: “Democrats have fought to end discrimination in all forms — including discrimination based on race, sex, ethnicity or national origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability.”

The President signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, making progress in a decades-long battle for women to get equal pay for equal work.
The Department of Justice revised the Americans with Disabilities Act rules to ensure newly designed, built, or renovated public facilities are accessible to all Americans.

2. Women: Obama has proven that he is a strong advocate for women and a defender of the issues that are important to women and their families.
(Source: http://www.barackobama.com/record/womens-health?source=issues-nav)

3. Abortion: Obama is pro-choice.

4. Marriage: In an interview with ABC News in May, Obama spoke about the evolution of his personal views on same-sex marriage:"Personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.

(Sources: http://www.democrats.org/issues/civil_rights; http://www.barackobama.com/record/equal-rights?source=issues-nav)

Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney:

1. Abortion: Romney is pro-life.

Romney supports the Hyde Amendment, which broadly bars the use of federal funds for abortions.

2. Stem Cell Research: When confronted with the issue of stem cell research as governor of Massachusetts, Romney chose to support life by vetoing a bill that would have allowed the cloning of human embryos.

As president, Romney said he will focus his energy on laws and policies that promote this kind of research to unlock the medical breakthroughs that our loved ones so desperately need.

3. Marriage: As president, Romney said he will not only appoint an Attorney General who will defend the Defense of Marriage Act – a bipartisan law passed by Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton – but he will also champion a Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

(Source: http://www.mittromney.com/issues/values)