WASHINGTON (AP) – Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said she would defend gay rights as president and eliminate disparities for same-sex couples in federal law, including immigration and tax policy.

Clinton said states such as New Jersey and Massachusetts are extending rights to same-sex couples “and the federal government should recognize that and should extend the same access to federal benefits across the board. I will very much work to achieve that.”

Clinton’s comments came in an interview with the Philadelphia Gay News that was posted on its Web site April 10.

Clinton said she and her husband have many gay friends that they socialize with when they get the chance. “I’ve got friends, literally, around the country that I’m close to. It’s part of my life,” she said.

She said that when they ask her why they can’t get married, she tells them marriage is a state law. She said that fact helped defeat a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex weddings that she said would “enshrine discrimination in the Constitution.”

“States are really beginning seriously to deal with the whole range of options, including marriage, both under their own state constitutions and under the legislative approach,” she said. “I anticipate that there will be a very concerted amount of effort in the next couple of years that will move this important issue forward and different states will take different approaches as they did with marriage over many years and you will see an evolution over time.”

Clinton said she opposes a measure that would ban same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania.

“I would be very distressed if Pennsylvania were to adopt that kind of mean-spirited referendum and I hope it won’t happen,” she said.

Clinton’s Democratic rival Barack Obama and Republican John McCain declined the newspaper’s invitation for an interview. The paper criticized Obama and highlighted his refusal to talk by leaving a blank space on the front page where his interview would have appeared.

Clinton also said she would:

– Eliminate her husband’s policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” that prevents gays from serving openly in the military. Asked if she could do so by a signing order connected to a military appropriations bill, Clinton said she didn’t think that is possible but she would look into it and do it if it were legal.

– Be “very strongly outspoken” against foreign governments that execute gays and use financial assistance and other leverage to prevent the killings.

– Support federal domestic partner legislation to extend rights to all same-sex couples.

– Support services for gay youth, including guidance for schools about the discrimination they face.

– Continue to support gay pride celebrations, to the extent that security would allow. “I don’t think the Secret Service let Bill walk in a parade when he became president,” she said.

Additionally, the Democratic hopeful stated her stance again on television on Monday telling Ellen DeGeneres that she will work to ensure that same-sex couples, such as the talk show host and her partner Portia de Rossi are treated fairly.

“I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that people like you and Portia and others have a chance to have, you know, rights to be able to go to the hospital, to inherit property, to make sure that you can list somebody as a beneficiary on an insurance policy,” Clinton said in an interview on the “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

“That’s all we want is to be fair,” DeGeneres responded. “I like it. I like it.”

Clinton has said she would defend gay rights as president and eliminate disparities for same-sex couples in federal law, including immigration and tax policy.

When asked how the New York senator deals with criticism and calls for her to stop her presidential campaign, Clinton told DeGeneres it was nothing new.

“You know, boys used to say that to me all the time,” the former first lady said.

Clinton said she continues because there are still states left to vote and the contest between her and rival Barack Obama is close.

“Why would I quit?” Clinton said. “This country is worth fighting for. I’m having a good time. I’m enjoying going out there and talking to people.”