Santorum on Friday doubled down on attacks against the gay community, telling a gay man that he doesn't deserve the 'privilege' of marriage because same sex relationships don't "benefit society."

"[Marriage] is an intrinsic good ... we extend certain privileges to people who do that because we want to encourage that behavior," he said after a gay audience member asked why homosexuals don't deserve equal rights when it comes to marriage.

"Two people who may like each other or may love each other who are same-sex, is that a special relationship? Yes it is, but it is not the same relationship that benefits society like a marriage between a man and a woman," Santorum continued.

His comments came at a campaign stop in Fulton, Missouri.

WATCH (courtesy of ThinkProgress):