Dalai Lama Says Gay Marriage Is 'OK' And Homophobia Is 'Wrong' (VIDEO)

Gay marriage is "OK," according to the Dalai Lama.

In an interview with Larry King, the Buddhist spiritual leader of Tibet said gay marriage and sex is fine, as long as it is between two consenting parties.

The Dalai Lama, 78, said marriage between same-sex couples is a "personal matter."

"If two people, a couple, really feel that way, it's more practical, more satisfaction, and both sides fully agree, then OK," the Dalai Lama told King. The interview is scheduled to air March 10.

The Buddhist leader has spoken against gay sex in the past, calling it a "sexual misconduct" over a decade ago, according to The Huffington Post. At the time the Dalai Lama was referencing Tibetan texts that are against such unions.

But it appears his views have become more contemporary. The Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, said people should still follow their spiritual beliefs, but he also recognized that there are different types of sexual contact.

"People who have belief or who have special traditions, then you should follow according to your own tradition. Like Buddhism, there are different kinds of sexual misconduct, so you should follow properly.

"But then for a non-believer, that is up to them. So there are different forms of sex- so long (as it is) safe, okay, and (if both people) fully agree, OK," he told King, according to The Independent.

King and the Dalai Lama also discussed strong anti-homosexuality sentiments in other countries, in particular Russia. The Dalai Lama told King that as far as legalizing gay marriage is concerned, "That's up to the country's law."

He also told King that homophobia is "wrong," and is "a violation of human rights."

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