Gore does not appear to be responding to any particular situation, just expressing his opinion---- and in an area far afield from his usual endeavors on the climate.  Seems gratuitous to me, and I wonder what caused it (if anything).

For Mary Cheney, I suspect.
:)

Gratuitous, why?  And why do you say that he is not responding to any particular situation?  Discrimination against gay and lesbian people is prevalent in our society.  Do you need a reason to call this out and speak out against it?