Answers on gay marriage and abortion from state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz’s Democratic challenger are raising eyebrows in Jamaica Plain. Chang-Diaz, who is serving her first term representing the Second Suffolk District, and Roxbury attorney Hassan Williams face off in the Sept. 14 primary.

Last week, Williams headed into the lion’s den, attending a forum put together by the Jamaica Plain Progressives. Jamaica Plain is a stronghold of support for Chang-Diaz.

The group, which includes several Chang-Diaz supporters, pressed him on his answers in a questionnaire he filled out earlier for the group.

Asked about gay marriage, Williams wrote, “I believe same sex marriage is well settled law in Massachusetts, and I will not do anything to change that status.”

“I believe in bringing people together and not dividing people,” he said when asked to clarify by the JP Progressives. He added: “As a state senator, I’m going to represent every single person in the district, no matter who they are, whether they vote or don’t vote, whether they have money or they don’t have money. That’s my plan, and I’m not going to do it by dividing people.”

He declined to say how he would have voted on gay marriage when asked by one Chang-Diaz supporter, calling it a divisive issue and saying he was focused on “bringing people together.” “I’m not going to be boxed in,” he said. “I refuse to be boxed in.”

Paula Herrington, the interim executive director of gay rights group MassEquality, said she was concerned about the statements. “Obviously, we’re not comfortable with that kind of stance,” she said. “I think he can be applauded for saying he’d like to bring people together, I think that’s an admirable sentiment. But you shouldn’t do that on the backs of someone’s civil rights.”

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