Massachusetts Acting Gov. Jane Swift speaks to the assembled press outside her Statehouse office in Boston Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2001 where she defended her stepson's right to voice his opinion on any policy.

BOSTON (AP) - The gay stepson of acting Gov. Jane M. Swift says her opposition to gay marriage is hypocritical.

"To stay with her Republican supporters, she doesn't want to go too far, because she knows she'll lose votes," Brian Hunt told The Boston Globe for a story published Wednesday. "Knowing they have a homosexual son, you'd think they'd be more understanding."

Hunt, 25, is the son of Swift's husband, Chuck Hunt, 47, and his second wife, Andrea. He lives in California and works at a coffee shop. He believes he should be allowed to marry his male partner.

Swift said she supports her stepson despite his public criticism of her stance. She said she considers her stepson to be one of her children, along with her 2-year-old daughter and infant twin daughters.

"I love Brian," Swift said. "I support Brian's right to voice his opinion on any policy."

Swift has supported increased rights for gays and lesbians, including domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples, but has said she would not support gay marriage in Massachusetts.

"In my mind, the sanctity of marriage requires that it be confined to marriage between a man and a woman," Swift said Wednesday.

Swift spokesman Jason Kauppi disputed the younger Hunt's claim that "they want me out of the spotlight," saying the couple has avoided discussing him publicly to protect him from scrutiny, not to hide him.

Swift, 36, is Hunt's fourth wife. She became acting governor in April when predecessor Paul Cellucci became ambassador to Canada. She is the nation's youngest governor and, when she had twins in May, she became the first to give birth while in office.