While the many Republican presidential hopefuls hold similar positions on LGBT-related issues, the past two weeks has seen them begin to distinguish themselves in some ways. For instance, during the past two weeks, five said they believe Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis has a religious freedom right to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples, while five others said she needs to obey the law and issue the licenses. Only four have signed a National Organization for Marriage pledge to oppose marriage for same-sex couples in various ways.       But everybody wants to defund Planned Parenthood.

Because they have been much in the news in recent weeks, these topics could well be part of the third debate event Wednesday, September 16, on CNN:

Kentucky clerk controversy: Kim Davis, a county clerk in Kentucky, refused marriage licenses to same-sex couples by implementing a “no marriage licenses” policy. A federal judge ruled that policy unconstitutional and ordered her to issue marriage licenses to all eligible couples. When Davis refused, saying it was against her religious beliefs to issue licenses to same-sex couples, the judge found her in contempt of court and sent her to jail. After six days, the judge was satisfied that Davis’ deputies had begun issuing licenses and he released Davis with the caveat that she must not interfere with them. Opponents of allowing same-sex couples to marry have been couching the controversy as an attack on the constitutional right to free exercise of religion. LGBT supporters see it as an attempt to violate the constitutional guarantee of equal protection for same-sex couples by using religion as an excuse.

Planned Parenthood Funding: The nation’s largest provider of reproductive services makes a wide range of health services available to people with low incomes. Among those services are thousands of screenings per year for breast cancer, a disease that disproportionately affects lesbians; it also provides “sensitive, and appropriate reproductive health, general health, and sexual health services” to LGBT patients. Many Republican presidential candidates are supporting bills in Congress to stop federal funding –about half a billion dollars– for Planned Parenthood. Opponents of abortion are driving those efforts, even though Planned Parenthood spends only about three percent of its budget on abortion services.

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: The organization that’s been behind many of the efforts to oppose marriage for same-sex couples devised a “Presidential Marriage Pledge” for candidates. It pledges support for a constitutional amendment that limits marriage to one man-one woman; work to overturn the Supreme Court decisions that enable same-sex couples to marry and enjoy the same benefits as straight couples; amend or repeal any regulations or executive orders that recognize same-sex couples as married; support the FADA (see above); and have the Department of Justice investigate harassment of activists working on marriage issues. At deadline, only four candidates had signed it.

Here’s what the Republican presidential hopefuls have said on these issues. The percentages indicate how much support each candidate received, after averaging results from the last four national polls tracked by RealClearPolitics.com.

Donald Trump (29.8)

Kentucky clerk controversy: In response to a question from a press conference September 3: “I don’t know enough about it to comment on it. Was she jailed? I really don’t know much about it.” Then two days later, on MSNBC: “The decision came down from the Supreme Court, so I’m a believer in both sides of the picture. I would say the simple answer is: Let her clerks do it. From what I understand, she’s not letting her clerks do it either. The other simple answer is, rather than going through this — because it’s really a very, very sticky situation and terrible situation — 30 miles away they have other places, they have many other places where you get licensed. And you have them actually quite nearby, that’s another alternative.”

Planned Parenthood: Has sent mixed messages. Said he would defund the group, then said he opposes federal funds for abortion services but is OK with funding for other services.

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Has not responded to NOM’s request to sign the pledge.

Ben Carson (16)

Kentucky clerk controversy: Told Fox News’ Megyn Kelly he supports “traditional marriage” and that “This is a Judeo-Christian nation.

Planned Parenthood: Has petition on his campaign website asking support for Congress to “stop all public funds” to Planned Parenthood.

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Signed it.

Jeb Bush (8.3 percent)

Kentucky clerk controversy: Told reporters in New Hampshire: “She is sworn to uphold the law, and it seems to me that there ought to be common ground, there ought to be big enough space for her to act on her conscience and –now that the law is the law of the land- for a gay couple to be married in whatever jurisdiction that is.”

Planned Parenthood: Said federal funds should be withdrawn

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Has not yet responded to NOM’s request to sign the pledge.

Ted Cruz (7.0)

Kentucky clerk controversy: Cruz visited clerk Kim Davis in jail and spoke at the rally in support of her decision to refuse to issue all marriage licenses. He told Fox News Kelly File that the jailing of Kim Davis is “an outrage.” “It’s fundamentally wrong. For the first time, we’re seeing a Christian woman thrown in jail for standing up for her faith. I tell you, I stand with Kim Davis. Unequivocally, I stand with her and anyone else that the government is trying to persecute for standing up for their faith….We are a nation that was formed by people fleeing religious oppression and coming to seek a land where we could worship freely without the government getting in the way.”

Planned Parenthood: Voted August 3 for a motion to proceed to a vote on a bill (S. 1881) to prohibit federal funding to Planned Parenthood. (The motion failed to achieve necessary three-fifths vote.) He also co-sponsored the bill.

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Signed it.

Marco Rubio (5.5)

Kentucky clerk controversy: Told the New York Times: “We should seek a balance between government’s responsibility to abide by the laws of our republic and allowing people to stand by their religious convictions. While the clerk’s office has a governmental duty to carry out the law, there should be a way to protect the religious freedom and conscience rights of individuals working in the office.”

Planned Parenthood: Voted August 3 for a motion to proceed to a vote on a bill (S. 1881) to prohibit federal funding to Planned Parenthood. (The motion failed to achieve necessary three-fifths vote.) He also co-sponsored the bill.

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Has not yet responded to NOM’s request to sign the pledge.

Carly Fiorina (5.0)

Kentucky clerk controversy: Told Christian radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt: “it’s clear religious liberty is under assault in many, many ways. Having said that, when you are a government employee… then in essence, you are agreeing to act as an arm of the government….Is she prepared to continue to work for the government, be paid for by the government in which case she needs to execute the government’s will….I think it’s a very different situation for her than someone in a hospital who’s asked to perform an abortion or someone at a florist who’s asked to serve a gay wedding. I think when you’re a government employee, you are put into a different position honestly.”

Planned Parenthood: Told CBN it should be defunded and that, if Congress didn’t do it, she would, as president, even if it meant shutting down the government.

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Has not yet responded to NOM’s request to sign the pledge.

Scott Walker (4.8)

Kentucky clerk controversy: Told Laura Ingraham on September 3: “I think in America, it’s the balance you’ve got to have between the laws that are out there but alternately ensuring that the constitution is upheld. And I think the constitution is very clear that people have the freedom of religion.” Told a conservative website: “I’ve just got to think there has…to be some sort of reasonable accommodation that would allow this woman to practice her religious rights.”

Planned Parenthood: As governor, defunded Planned Parenthood in Wisconsin and would do so nationally as president.

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Told NOM he is not signing any pledges.

Mike Huckabee (4.3)

Kentucky clerk controversy: Visited Davis in jail and spoke at a rally in support of her September 8. He also started a “Free Kim Davis” petition on his campaign website. On his website, he says: “Having Kim Davis in federal custody removes all doubt of the criminalization of Christianity in our country. We must defend religious liberty and never surrender to judicial tyranny.”

Planned Parenthood: Says to “fully eliminate funding” for Planned Parenthood is a “priority.”

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Told NOM he is not signing any pledges.

John Kasich (3.8)

Kentucky clerk controversy: Told ABC This Week: “I respect the fact that this lady doesn’t agree [with the Supreme Court ruling], but she’s also a government employee. She’s not running a church. I wouldn’t force this on a church, but in terms of her responsibility, I think she has to comply. I don’t think –I don’t like the fact that she’s sitting in a jail, that’s just absurd as well. But I think she should follow the law.”

Planned Parenthood: Signed state budget in 2013 that stripped funding from the Ohio Planned Parenthood group that served more than 56,000 patients in 2014, including more than 11,000 cancer screenings.

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Has not yet responded to NOM’s request to sign the pledge.

Chris Christie (2.5)

Kentucky clerk controversy: Told New Jersey radio station he doesn’t think Davis should have been jailed because “I have real concerns about making sure that religious liberty is protected in this country.” But he added, “I also have said before thought that people who are in government jobs need to do their jobs.”

Planned Parenthood: As governor, he defunded Planned Parenthood in New Jersey and said he would do so as president.

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Has not yet responded to NOM’s request to sign the pledge.

Rand Paul (2.0)

Kentucky clerk controversy: Told Boston Herald Radio: “I think people who do stand up and are making a stand to say that they believe in something is an important part of the American way. I think one way to get around the whole idea of what the Supreme Court is forcing on the states is for the states just to get out of the business of giving out licenses.”

Planned Parenthood: Voted August 3 for a motion to proceed to a vote on a bill (S. 1881) to prohibit federal funding to Planned Parenthood. (The motion failed to achieve necessary three-fifths vote.) He also co-sponsored the bill and introduced his own legislation to prevent federal funding of Planned Parenthood or “any of its affiliates.”

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Has not yet responded to NOM’s request to sign the pledge.

Rick Santorum (1.0)

Kentucky clerk controversy: In interview with CNN, said: “What Kim Davis did, in my opinion, was heroic and she suffered the consequences from it. I think putting her in jail was ridiculous –an extreme position. But you know what? That’s sometimes what it takes. People stand up and conduct civil disobedience because the law is unjust….So I commend her for actually standing up for her principles.”

Planned Parenthood: Would defund the organization and launch a criminal investigation into it over videos showing Planned Parenthood reps discussing with women purporting to be considering abortion the possibility of donating tissue of the fetus and responding to questions about prospects of some remuneration.

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Signed it.

Bobby Jindal (0.3)

Kentucky clerk controversy: Told the Huffington Post: “I don’t think anyone should have to choose between following their conscience and religious beliefs and giving up their job and facing financial sanctions. I think it’s wrong to force Christian individuals or business owners. We are seeing government today discriminate against whether it’s clerks, florists, musicians or others. I think that’s wrong. I think you should be able to keep your job and follow your conscience. I absolutely do believe people have a First Amendment right, a constitutional right. I don’t think the court can take that away.”

Planned Parenthood: As governor, has led efforts to stop Planned Parenthood from operating in Louisiana and tried to cut Medicaid funding for services provided by the group

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Signed it.

Lindsey Graham (0.3)

Kentucky clerk controversy: Told Hugh Hewitt: “As a public official, [Kim Davis should] comply with the law or resign. The rule of law is the rule of law. That’s what we are. We are a rule of law nation, and I appreciate her conviction. I support traditional marriage, but she’s accepted a job where she has to apply the law to everyone. And that’s her choice.”

Planned Parenthood: Did not vote August 3 for a motion to proceed to a vote on a bill (S. 1881) to prohibit federal funding to Planned Parenthood. (The motion failed to achieve necessary three-fifths vote.) But he did co-sponsor the bill.

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Told NOM he is not signing any pledges.

George Pataki (not included)

Kentucky clerk controversy: Told CNN “I would have fired her. No question about it. You take an oath when you’re going into public office that you’re going to uphold the laws and enforce the laws….”

Planned Parenthood: A campaign spokesman said Pataki would favor defunding Planned Parenthood.

National Organization for Marriage Pledge: Has not yet responded to NOM’s request to sign the pledge.

CNN is hosting the debate at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. Like Fox News did with the previous debates in Cleveland, CNN will divide the field into the top polling candidates and the lower polling candidates (based on CNN’s criteria). The upper tier will include all the same top tier from last month’s debate –Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, John Kasich, Chris Christie– plus Carly Fiorina.

The lower tier will include Rick Santorum, Bobby Jindal, George Pataki, and Lindsey Graham. CNN’s criteria eliminated from the debate stage former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore who did not achieve the necessary minimum of one percent in recent polling. Rick Perry announced Friday that he was dropping out of the race.

The lower tier debate will be broadcast at 6 p.m.; the upper tier at 8 p.m.

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