Here's a brief look at where Barack Obama and John McCain stand on gay marriage. To compare the candidates on more issues, use this interactive.

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John McCain believes the institution of marriage is a union between one man and one woman, and that questions about gay marriage and civil unions ought to be decided at the state level. McCain worked to ban gay marriage in Arizona, his home state. He supports the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. He opposed legislation to protect gay people from job discrimination or hate crimes. And he voted in favor the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996.

In the Illinois Senate, Barack Obama authored workplace anti-discrimination legislation. In the U.S. Senate, Obama has sought repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, calling it discriminatory. He opposes the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy." He supports the idea of civil unions but does not support gay marriage. In all cases he believes that decisions about marriage should be left to the states.