Fiorina criticized the recent ruling by a federal judge overturning Proposition 8, California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage. "The voters were quite clear," she said. "For that decision to be overturned by a single judge perhaps seems not appropriate."

Fiorina pointed out that she supports same-sex civil unions and the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy prohibiting gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military, calling her positions "consistent" with those taken by President Obama and many other senators.

Boxer defended the ruling overturning Proposition 8. "We do have courts that check the legislature [...] that's what our Constitution says," she said. Boxer said that she thought that "people are coming around" to support same-sex marriage.