Sound-Off: President Obama Backs Same-Sex Marriage
In an interview with ABC News, the president says gay couples should have the right to marry.
President Obama made headlines Wednesday during an ABC News interview when he said he supports same-sex couples ability to marry.
The president, who in the past had supported civil union parternships for gay couples, said that his stance on the subject has "evolved" since he took office in 2008.
Obama said while he supports same-sex marriage, he believes it is within a state's right to regulate such unions. Vice President Joe Biden and Education Secretary Arne Duncun in recent days both expressed support for gay marriage.
From Obama's ABC interview:
"I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married," he said.
The announcement came just one day after voters in the swing state of North Carolina approved a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Click here to read the full story from our partners at The Huffington Post.
So what do you think? Do you support same-sex marriage? What do you think of the president's announcement? How might this impact his re-election? Tell us in the comments.
Ryan
2:37 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012
So happy about it. I'm gay, and I'm thrilled the president has finally come around and expressed his support.
bill budner
2:47 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012
"he believes it is within a state's right to regulate such unions." he said the same thing about state run legal dispensaries, but has used federal muscle to negate state laws in that situation...
Anne Reid
3:04 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012
It's time to stop calling it "gay marriage" and instead use "marriage equality".
Or maybe just "marriage".
Lisa Regula Meyer
4:11 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012
I'm glad he expressed his opinion on the matter, but that's really all this amounts to. He's still leaving it as states' rights, instead of recognizing it as a civil right. And yes, we need to get rid of "gay marriage" as a concept. Love is love, marriage is marriage.
Paxton Crenshaw
4:28 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012
To not support marriage equality these days seems ridiculously out-of-step with the society in which we live. Obama did good.
Matt Fredmonsky
10:53 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
@Paxton, I thought you were going to finish your comment with "out-of-step with the society" that elected our first black president. Either way, it makes sense.
Wilburforce
10:55 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
I can't support marriage at all......
Pat
3:14 pm on Friday, May 11, 2012
The President is trying to ruin our country and this is the last straw--it states in the Bible that a man and a woman are to marry--anything else is a sin. I understand that some of you were born gay but I was not and I don't appreciate the out ward expression the gays feel they want to push down our throats.
Lisa Regula Meyer
3:31 pm on Friday, May 11, 2012
But where does it state that in the constitution? We have separation of church and state in the US; laws are not created based on a particular religion's view. It's ironic how the religious right rails against countries with Sharia law, but want to use their Bible to create US laws.
bill budner
4:34 pm on Friday, May 11, 2012
i don't want you to push yours on me either. also it states both male and female must be virgins before they marry....so stones/ glass houses, you know all that stuff.
Paxton Crenshaw
11:21 pm on Friday, May 11, 2012
oh please, pat. if george w. bush wasn't able to ruin our country by starting two wars and squandering away a budget surplus, barack obama isn't going to do it by stating on record that he supports two gay guys tying the knot. and please clarify for me what it is you think the gays want to "push down our throats", figuratively speaking, i assume.
Myron Holley
8:48 pm on Friday, May 11, 2012
ALL THOUGH I personally do not like O BUMMER and believe he is the worst person we have ever elected. On this I think he is correct. We have no right to instill our be life or nose in others bed rooms. [ with consenting adults] No I am not gay and do not understand it. However have many friends who have the family members who are or who are themselves. Who are we to say this or that is wrong. Judge not lest ye so be judged. Damn hate to agree with a demo rat. But do on this one.
Kat Holtz
12:28 am on Monday, May 14, 2012
I am so pleased that the President has finally made this statement in support of equality. Our country's laws are not supposed to be a reflection of the bible or of any one religion. Our country should provide equality for all persons of all beliefs. If someone doesn't like gay marriage, they are free to not marry a gay person.