President Barack Obama said in an interview with ABC that "it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married."
With his Wednesday announcement, the president reversed his longstanding position on the issue. It came on the heels of his own vice president and education secretary saying they were in favor of gay marriage.
According to an ABC blog post, Obama further described his thought process as an "evolution" that progressed as he discussed the issue with staff members, gay and lesbian service members and his own family.
He said he thinks Americans are growing increasingly comfortable with the concept of gay marriage and cited his own daughters' views on the matter.
“It’s interesting, some of this is also generational,” he said. “You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we’re talking about their friends and their parents.
"And Malia and Sasha, it wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently. It doesn’t make sense to them, and frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective.”
Read CNN's full coverage of President Barack Obama's stance on gay marriage
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Post by: CNN's Eliott C. McLaughlin Filed under: Barack Obama • Civil Rights • District of Columbia • Gay and lesbian • Politics • U.S. |
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Thank you, Mr. President. Without a doubt a very courageous thing to do, especially in an election year. This is a fundamental issue of fairness and equality, not an issue of offering others special rights. Given that there are more than 1,200 legal benefits afforded with marriage, gay and lesbian couples should have those same rights afforded to them - or those rights and privileges should be revoked for all. Thank you for your commitment to equality and justice and for having such immense integrity.
Thank you President Obama!!!
That amendment in North Carolina will be tossed out like the one in California. Imagine if we took a vote on slavery in North Carolina in the 1850's? Of course the voters would be in favor of slavery, despite it being wrong. And slavery is mentioned as acceptable in the Bible by the way...
This POTUS has shown political courage when he risked his presidency to go after Osama Bin Laden, and has shown it again by coming out in favor of civil rights after a swing state voted to ban what he says he supports. Bravo for putting this statement out and standing up for equality for everybody.
Traditional definition on things (such as marriage) should not be arbitrarily changed whenever some group FEEL like it, or whenever some group trumpet it as a Civil Rights issue.
What's next?
Pedophiles demanding their rights to "love" children?
Imperialists demanding their rights to declare sovereignty of the moon?
80s video gamers demanding all your base belong to them?
Pink-slime haters declaring that meat chunks do not qualify as meats?
Kawasaki demanding to allow their motorcycles be called automobiles too?
Except of course, that marriage has been changed and redefined since our nation's inception.
1700s – only whites can legally marry, a woman was property
1875 – illegal to marry outside of your own race
1800s – slaves can marry only with permission of the owner
1920s – a married woman can own her own property
The laws of marriage change with the times.
Oh, don't get your drawers in a knot James. Nothing has changed yet. But it will. Praise God! A president who gets the true love and compassion of Jesus!
For evry sin, the Bible says that we will have a consequence.
"I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.”
Exodus 34:6-8
The bible also says you're not allowed to interact with a woman who is menstruating
Luckily for us that is complete fiction and has no basis on reality.
That doesn't sound like "Good News" to me.
I dare say that not supporting gay marriage is a "biggot" issue! I believe in state rights that has always had complete control over licensing-related issues and if you agree with their laws and regulations, you live there. If you don't you move.
To compare slavery to gay marriage is a hoot. Get a grip.
Great news! Everyone deserves equality.
Why should the government have the power to tell human beings who to love and marry?
Gay people are expected to obey by all of the rules, including paying taxes mean while, they are denied one of the most fundamental right. It is shocking and sad that in 2012, people are still fighting for their "human" right. This shouldn't even be a debate!
Discrimination is sick!
I am so proud of our president right now. Although this is a very controversial subject and he is essentially sticking his neck out politically due to it beling a re-election year, he is not afraid to give us a definitive answer as to what his views are instead of flip flopping, staying neutral or saying whatever to get re-elected. So proud of you Mr. President, and hopefully other Americans can also let their views and opinions on the matter evolve.
Obama!!!! Proud of my boy to have the courage to publicly say the right thing even it it offends all the inbred, backwoods, evil, illiterate, toothless, overall-wearing, bestiality-practicing, bible-toting, hillbilly, redneck Republicans. Nuke the south!!
"Nuke" the south?
Wow, clearly you are an open minded and compassionate person...
So much hate..
I am happen to agree with the position, but I think Obama is a complete tool for waiting years to make the position official, and to time it with an election. He did it for himself more than anyone else.
Yeah slifty you made no sense when with your comment at all.I don't really care anyway. If you want to be gay and married...go ahead. I don't care. But I don't see why you care so much about being married anyway and I feel bad for the kid who is confused his whole life about the concept of a dad and a mom when he has two moms, or two dads. With not a single case of both parents being legit.
There is no "right" or "wrong"; there are only personal preferences.
OBOMO continues to prove he has not the mentality to be a man but continues with his liberal college ways of destroying the greatest civilization the earth has seen. Our forefathers will be weeping to see the destruction that this boy/man has wreaked on this nation.
This country has given all of us the liberties we treasure to only have them destroyed by the liberals in our society.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD
not one nation under obama.
GOD grant us the strength to persevere the ones who wish to tear down this nation. NOT certain why they don't move to RUSSIA or someplace where their ideas would be appreciated
Hey Lucky...get out of 1950
"destroying the greatest civilization the earth has seen"
er, based on what criteria exactly?
With Liberty And Justice FOR ALL....not just those that agree with you Lucky!
Dont think that he is right on this topic.