President Obama Becomes First POTUS To Support Gay Marriage

May. 9, 2012

By Stephanie Georgopulos info

Steph is a former editor at Thought Catalog and a current writer at Gawker Media. Her work has been featured on ...

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Last night, North Carolina passed Amendment 1: a measure defining marriage in the state constitution as between one man and one woman, and banning civil unions and domestic partnerships. The last time the state’s residents voted on a marriage-based provision to be added into their constitution, it called for the banning of interracial marriages (and was only repealed because of the 1967 United States Supreme Court civil rights case, Loving v. Virginia).

The passing of Amendment 1 was disheartening news felt across America, but it was also the catalyst for our President to go on record stating that he supports gay marriage.

In an interview with NBC News’ Robin Roberts, Obama said the following:

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.

What happens now is anyone’s guess, but it should be noted that President Obama is the first American president to affirm his beliefs in plain language — and on national television. This is a wonderful jumping off point; an opportunity for words to become actions. Equal rights may just become available to all Americans in our lifetime. Hooray! TC mark

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image – Benson Kua

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  • EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL

    HOORAY!!!!!!!!!! YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!

  • Michelle

    Obama 2012. 

  • http://youtu.be/NkgLON-Ek2w Conservative Lifer

    Obama just cost himself the election.  And he probably will cost a few dem congressmen their office as well.  Poor timing and out of touch with the majority of voters.  Bad move. 

    • Guest

      GTFO.

    • http://twoseconds.tumblr.com/ Jesse Vaughan

      lol.

    • Tnpb7d

       A “conservative lifer” on thought catalog? Hmm, but the latest polls actually show the majority of voters support gay marriage. It’s the haters that are “out of touch.”

      • http://youtu.be/NkgLON-Ek2w Conservative Lifer

        No, they show that people support civil unions.

        As was shown in NC and other moral states, they do not support gay marriage.

      • Guest

        Directly from Gallup: ”
        PRINCETON, NJ — For the first time in Gallup’s tracking of the issue, a majority of Americans (53%) believe same-sex marriage should be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages. The increase since last year came exclusively among political independents and Democrats. Republicans’ views did not change.”

        That was last year. The numbers have only changed slightly since.

      • Guest

        So, maybe next time you make unequivocal statements about gay marriage, take  5 seconds to look up the correct information.

      • steinlette

        Which morals are these, exactly?

      • http://twitter.com/wesjanisen Wes Janisen

        Because clearly you need some clarification:

      • Tnpb7d

         When did institutionalized discrimination become the “moral” route? Was it when the South used Jim Crow laws to keep black Americans from voting? Was it when states made it illegal for blacks and whites to use the same bathroom and attend the same schools? Maybe it was in Dred Scott v Sanford when the Supreme Court ruled Blacks could not be considered citizens because the founders didn’t intend for them to be? Or was it when NC voters tried to amend their constitution to prohibit inter-racial marriages? 

        The 14th amendment promises equal protection under the law and constitutional amendments like NC’s are no different from these historical forms of de jure discrimination that tarnish our democratic past.

      • http://twitter.com/emilcDC Emil Caillaux

        Really? “‘Moral’ states”? Are you perchance calling parts of the Northeast and the East Coast a witch?

        Also, according to some people, interracial marriage was also a “moral issue”. If that’s the case, I revel in my immorality. 

      • http://youtu.be/NkgLON-Ek2w Conservative Lifer

        Some people are wrong. But open immorality should not be legitimatized.

      • votedAGAINSTamendmentone

        Hey, why don’t you have a cup of SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP.

      • Michaelwg

        But denying equal rights to a group of disenfranchised tax paying American citizens is NOT immoral? Please, teach me more…

      • http://youtu.be/NkgLON-Ek2w Conservative Lifer

        How do we identify that group? By their claims alone?

        That’s a low bar of identification. The laws of the land protect people because of things they are born with, inalienable attributes. A sexual behavior isn’t inalienable, nor are people born that way.

    • Sassypantsgyrl

      You’re out of touch. Love is love.

    • Darren

      Even as a conservative myself, I think Obama’s got a lock on this year’s elections.  The right just has terrible candidates this year.

    • http://twitter.com/emilcDC Emil Caillaux

      49% approve vs 46% disapprove. And if anything will fire the Democratic base to come out and vote like it’s 2008, this will.

  • Monsterball

    Obeezy has never supported gay marriage. If he really did, than he would have said something before the NC vote, which would have encouraged people to vote against it. Instead he is just politicking, waiting to see how the vote would turn out before picking a side.  Really, why is it that he wasn’t sure if gay marriage was okay allllll the way up until after the vote? Obeezy lies.

    • steinlette

      And indeed, why has no attempt to overturn DOMA occurred?

    • Darren

      silly Obeezy.

  • http://twitter.com/katiereedII Katie Reed

    Even though I am adamant on fiscal conservative policy, I definitely tip my hat to President Obama for being the first POTUS to broadcast his support for gay marriage. 

  • Guest

    Very, very glad he finally said what I honestly think he has believe for a long time.  Not coming out in support of gay marriage earlier was a political move, not one based on his personal beliefs. Also, I’d argue that this decision will not hurt him at all in the election  The people that won’t vote for him over this wouldn’t vote for him anyways and the people in the middle  who are undecided are going to vote based on the economy, not gay marriage. 

  • Guest

    OBAMA FTW.

  • Marta

    Finally. Might be too late for mr Obama, though.

  • Sallybell

     In other news: Mitt also announces his support of gay marriage, but only if the couple is celibate.

  • Serena

    Why is gay marriage even a political issue? Especially still, after all arguments on both sides have been beaten to death and no one has said anything new for years. 

  • Wdeanis

    I hate being a single-issue voter, and once marriage equality is a non-issue I’ll get a little flexibility, but the election is solely about this for me. I don’t care for some of his policies, but if the man can make it possible for my bf and I to finally move forward, I’ll be his biggest fan.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=727725625 Tanya Eunice

    Sorry that my state is full of dumb religious hicks. I feel ashamed of it, and I used to be so proud. ):

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  • Michaelwg

    He came out and said this only after Biden jumped the gun and forced Obama’s hand on the matter. Also, the liberals here are getting all excited over him basically feeding you bread crumbs. Jill Stein was pro-gay marriage back in 2001 and she’s running for Pres in 2012. Quit getting all gooey for Obama who drops a soundbite after 3 years. Whoop-de-doo.

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