In an interview on ABC news earlier today, Barack Obama expressed his support of marriage for same-sex couples, the first sitting President of the United States of America to proclaim equality for gays and lesbians.
"I’ve stood on the side of broader side of equality for the LGBT
community. I had hesitated on gay marriage, in part because I thought
civil unions would be sufficient, that that was something that would
give people hospital vistitations, elements that we take for granted.
And I was sensitive to the fact that, for a lot of people, the word
marriage was something that evokes very powerful traditions, religious
beliefs, and so forth. But I have to say, over the course of several
years, as I talked to friends and family and neighbors. When I think
about members of my own staff, who are in incredibly committed
monogamous 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 feel constrained even now that Don’t
Ask Don’t Tell is repealed… At a certain point I’ve just concluded that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 that same-sex couples should be able to get married.”
Image credit: Human Rights Campaign
No comments:
Post a Comment