Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus on Sunday said that he supports “dignity and respect” for all Americans, including gays and lesbians, but doesn’t agree that applies to same-sex marriage.

Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Priebus said he does not believe marriage equality is a civil rights issue.

“People in this country, no matter straight or gay deserve dignity and respect. However, that doesn’t mean it carries on to marriage. I think that most Americans agree that in this country, as the legal and historic and the religious union, marriage has to have the definition of one man and one woman,” Priebus said.

Priebus added that gays and lesbians “deserve equal rights” in the workplace and in hospital visitations, but would not define marriage as a “civil right.”

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