President Obama Comes Out…In Support Of Gay Marriage
May 9 2012, Published 4:32 a.m. ET
By Alexis Tereszcuk - RadarOnline.com Entertainment Editor
President Barack Obama made an historic announcement on Wednesday that he believes same sex marriage should be allowed.
Speaking from the White House to ABC News’ Robin Roberts, Obama said he has changed his position and is now in favor of allowing same sex couples to get married.
“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," the President said.
He is the first sitting president to support gay marriage, and made the announcement the day after North Carolina passed a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage.
The President said his decision has come from a gradual change for him over the years.
"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.”
Obama continued to explain his evolution, invoking his daughters and his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their discussions.
“It’s interesting, some of this is also generational. You know when I go to college campuses, sometimes I talk to college Republicans who think that I have terrible policies on the economy, on foreign policy, but are very clear that when it comes to same sex equality or, you know, believe in equality. They are much more comfortable with it.
“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.”
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