Reprinted from Greater Cincinnati GLBT News:
President Barack Obama told ABC News today that he now supports same-sex marriage.
After opposing it for years, he said his position had evolved into one that’s more in line with the Democratic Party base and even Vice President Joe Biden.
In an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts, the president said that his change was based on conversations with his own staff members, openly Gay and Lesbian military service members and conversations with his wife and daughters.
Here’s some of what the president told ABC News:
“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.”
North Carolina voters overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as solely between a man and a woman, but not much is expected to change immediately.