Ben Carson Quotes: Presidential Hopeful Believes Being Gay is Choice, Says Prison Supports His Views [Watch]

Republican presidential hopeful and neurosurgeon Ben Carson made new comments regarding homosexuality as he continues to vie for support from the GOP base.

The doctor and conservative sweetheart argued that homosexuality is a choice because people choose it when they go to prison.

In the above interview with Chris Cuomo on CNN’s “New Day,” Carson explains his reasoning as to why homosexuality is a choice.

“Absolutely,” Carson said about homosexuality when asked. “Because a lot of people when they go into their prison they’re straight and when they come out they’re gay.”

“So did something happen while they were in there?” Carson further asked. “Ask yourself that question.”

The question arose when Cuomo asked why Carson was against marriage equality. Carson argued the matter should be one for states to decide rather than the federal government. In response, Cuomo posited the case of the state and its citizen’s abusing that power to oppress a group of people as it had done with slavery. Carson then said people do not have control over their race but they do their sexuality.

“Why do gay people want to get married? Why do they say they want to get married? Because they want to have various rights — property rights, visitation rights,” Carson continued. “Why can’t any two human beings, I don’t care what their sexual orientation is, why can’t they have the legal right to do those things? That does not require changing the definition of marriage.”

Despite these comments, Carson continues to push for a chance to run for president.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Carson has formed an exploratory committee to run for president.

The doctor, who recently came in fourth place during a Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll behind Sens. Ran Paul and Ted Cruz as well as Gov. Scott Walker, has begun hiring staff in Iowa and South Carolina.

However, they will have to do some damage control. Carson’s questionable comments are not limited to gay people. Carson has also compared the current U.S. to Nazi Germany. He defended this stance on CNN in December.