Source: Advocate, Pink News, Think Progress
In a Tuesday night segment of her interview series with CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin elaborated on the "gay friend" she has referred to in other forums -- a woman she says she's been close with for 30 years. [clip at bottom of this post]

She said that one of her "absolute best friends" is a lesbian, and continued:

"She is not my 'gay' friend, she is one of my best friends who happens to have made a choice that isn't a choice that I have made, but I'm not going to judge people," Palin said.

Palin again gave the kinds of convoluted responses that have become a running joke on Saturday Night Live, but clearly suggested that she agrees with right-wing religious groups who insist, despite evidence to the contrary, that homosexuality is a "choice".

"I am not going to judge Americans and the decisions that they make in their adult personal relationships," she said.

She managed to eventually twist her response toward something that was at least suggestive of one of the jingoistic talking-points of the McCain "Country First" campaign:

"And I love America where we are more tolerant than other countries are. And are more accepting of some of these choices that sometimes people want to believe reflects solely on an individual's values or not," she said.

But Palin was defensive when talk turned to a church she has frequented that promoted a "conversion therapy" conference.

Palin echoed an oft-repeated McCain campaign theme, saying the press "got it wrong" when they implied she supported the church's beliefs.

"I don't know what prayers are worthy of being prayed, and I don't know what prayers are going to be answered, but as for homosexuality, I am not going to judge Americans and the decisions that they make in their adult personal lives," she said.

Palin, who is also Governor of Alaska, was also asked about her position on abortion, including in extreme cases of pregnant and underage rape victims, again avoided direct answers to Couric's questions, but said:

"I am pro-life and I am unapologetic about my position there.

"I would counsel to choose life, I would like to see a culture of life.

"I'm saying that personally I would counsel that person to choose life despite horrific, horrific circumstances."

Palin said that she did not, however, feel that abortion should be an offence punishable with imprisonment.

Transcript:

Couric: Your church sponsored a conference that claimed to be able to convert gays into heterosexuals through prayer. Do you think that gays can be converted, governor?

Palin: Well, you’re absolutely wrong, again, on the facts. My church, I don’t have a church, I’m not a member of any church. I get to visit a couple of churches in Alaska when I’m home, including one, Wasilla Bible Church, and that’s the one that you’re talking about.

Couric: Right. I think James Dobson’s group … had a convention or a meeting there. And your church –

Palin: No, I think they –

Couric: — supported it.

Palin: The Wasilla Bible Church had a flyer that was part of a bulletin or something –

Couric: But you know what? That doesn’t even matter. Let me just ask you the question.

Palin: Well, it matters, though, because, Katie, when the media gets it wrong, it frustrates Americans who are just trying to get the facts and be able to make up their mind on, about a person’s values. So it does matter –

Couric: — you’re correcting us.

Palin: But you are talking about, I think, a value here, what my position is on homosexuality and can you pray it away ’cause I think that was the title that was listed in that bulletin. And, you know, I don’t know what prayers are worthy of being prayed. And I don’t know what prayers are gonna be answered or not answered. But as for homosexuality, I am not going to judge Americans and the decisions that they make in their adult personal relationships.

I have, one of my absolute best friends for the last 30 years who happens to be gay. And I love her dearly. And she is not my “gay friend.” She is one of my best friends who happens to have made a choice that isn’t a choice that I have made. But I am not gonna judge people. And I love America where we are more tolerant than other countries are. And are more accepting of some of these choices that sometimes people want to believe reflects solely on an individual’s values or not. Homosexuality, I am not gonna judge people.

Source: Palin's Gay Friend "Made a Choice That I Would Not Have Made"  | Advocate Sarah Palin: I do not judge people on their sexuality but gay is a choice | PinkNews
Palin: Being Gay Is A ‘Choice’ | Think Progress