Today in an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts, President Obama has reversed his position on same-sex marriage and affirmed his support.
The president has long been said to be “evolving on the issue,” and discussed that today’s announcement stemmed from conversations with his staff members, openly gay and lesbian service members, the First lady and their daughter.
“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,” said Obama
He went on to say that this is his personal decision, and that he still supports the concept of states deciding the issue on their own. And the announcement does come on the heels of voters in North Carolina approving a constitutional amendment defining marriage as “between one man and one woman.” But it still says something that the President of the United States is now openly backing marriage equality.
