Amendment One in North Carolina

Obama announces he supports same-sex marriage


(CNN) -- President Barack Obama said Wednesday he supports same-sex marriage, raising the political stakes on an issue over which Americans are evenly split.


The announcement was the first by a sitting president and put Obama squarely at odds with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who on Wednesday said during an appearance in Oklahoma, "I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman."


Obama said in an interview with ABC News, "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 once opposed such marriages. He later indicated his views were "evolving."


"I had hesitated on gay marriage, in part, because I thought civil unions would be sufficient," the president said. "I was sensitive to the fact that -- for a lot of people -- that the word marriage is something that provokes very powerful traditions and religious beliefs."


Romney: My view same on gay marriage Celebs react to Obama's same-sex support Timeline: Obama and same sex marriage


But, Obama said, his thinking shifted as he witnessed committed same-sex marriages and thought about U.S. service personnel who were "not able to commit themselves in a marriage."


It was not immediately clear how the development -- which same-sex marriage advocates had long sought -- might play out at the voting booth.


A Gallup Poll released Tuesday indicated 50% of Americans believe same-sex marriages should be recognized by law as valid, with 48% saying such marriages should not be legal.


But a CNN/ORC poll, taken in late March, indicated policies towards gays and lesbians were tied for last in the most-important issues facing the country.


Obama was "disappointed" by Tuesday's vote on the issue in North Carolina, which he described as discriminatory against gays and lesbians, a spokesman said earlier Wednesday.


North Carolina voted to implement a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, which was already prohibited by state law. Supporters of the measure pushed for the constitutional amendment, arguing that it was needed to ward off future legal challenges.


The president said he supports the concept of states deciding the issue on their own, ABC News reported.


Obama said his daughters, Malia and Sasha, have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. "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."


What's next for North Carolina?


Obama spoke Wednesday with ABC's Robin Roberts. The interview will appear on ABC's "Good Morning America" Thursday. Excerpts aired Wednesday evening on "World News With Diane Sawyer."


The president's stance will be among many key differences with Romney, but it is not expected to be a key talking point in his campaign.


In comments Wednesday to CNN Denver affiliate KDVR, Romney reiterated his opposition to same-sex marriage.


"And I do not favor civil unions if they are identical to marriage other than by name," Romney said during a visit to Fort Lupton. "My view is the domestic partnership benefits, hospital visitation rights, and the like are appropriate, but that the others are not."


The Family Research Council criticized Obama, and its president said on CNN's "The Situation Room" that the decision will aid Romney.


"The president, I think, has handed to Mitt Romney the one missing piece in his campaign," said Tony Perkins. "That is the intensity and motivation that Mitt Romney needs among social conservatives to win this election."


An expert on religion and politics said the move will make "an already close election even closer."


"It cuts both ways -- it activates both Democratic and Republican base voters," said John Green of the University of Akron.


Obama told ABC that some opinions on the issue are "generational."


"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, sexual orientation, that they believe in equality," he said.


First lady Michelle Obama was involved in the president's decision.


"This is something that, you know, we've talked about over the years and she, you know, she feels the same way, she feels the same way that I do," Obama said.


Reaction to Obama's same-sex marriage announcement


The new president of the Human Rights Campaign lauded the development.


"President Obama's words today will be celebrated by generations to come," Chad Griffin said in a statement.


Griffin later told CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight" that "we will never have another president, Democrat or Republican, that opposes gay marriage."


Same-sex marriage foe Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, told Morgan that "a child needs a mother and father."


Barney Frank, a gay Democratic congressman from Massachusetts, appearing on CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront," said that "no president could have done this 10 years ago."


Obama's interview followed recent comments by other key administration figures.


Vice President Joe Biden said Sunday on NBC he was "absolutely comfortable" with couples of the same gender marrying, leading observers to wonder when Obama would again address the issue.


Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Monday also made headlines when he openly backed same-sex marriage rights. Asked on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" if he supports allowing individuals of the same gender to legally wed, Duncan replied: "Yes, I do."


Before Tuesday, 30 states had voted in favor of constitutional amendments that seek to defend traditional definitions of marriage as a heterosexual union.


Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and the District of Columbia issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.


In February, Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire signed a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage beginning in June, but opponents there have pledged to block the bill and called for voters to decide the issue.


Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed into law a bill that permits the state's same-sex couples to wed as of January 1, and state residents may vote to affirm such a law. Minnesota will vote on a state constitutional amendment similar to the one in North Carolina. Maine will have a referendum on allowing same-sex marriage.


In 2011, the Pentagon stopped enforcement of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuals serving in the military. That change played a part in Obama's announced stance on same-sex marriage.


"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," he told ABC News.


Legal challenges over same-sex marriage could reach the U.S. Supreme Court in coming months, but it seems unlikely justices would hear arguments before Election Day 2012.


The issue is on two legal tracks.


The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals will decide the constitutionality of California Proposition 8, a voter-approved measure that would recognize marriage only between one man and one woman. A federal judge earlier struck down the law as a violation of equal protection, prompting the current appeal.


The Obama administration announced last year it believed the Defense of Marriage Act, often referred to as DOMA, to be unconstitutional. The law defines marriage for federal purposes as unions only between a man and woman.


A federal appeals court in Boston last month heard a DOMA lawsuit by a same-sex couple in Massachusetts. At issue is whether the federal government can deny tax, health and pension benefits to same-sex couples in states where they can marry.


That federal law is being officially defended in court by House Republicans, led by Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who stepped in after the Justice Department refused to participate.


CNN's Jessica Yellin, Bill Mears, Dan Gilgoff and Jim Acosta contributed to this report.

 

I have a big problem with "marriage" being between a man and a woman. Marriage started as a social institution, and then became a religious one in various cultures. It was a contract that gave protections to people, usually the father, as well as an exchange of goods including the daughter, livestock, and other items. This is history, not a view or interpretation of. That is where it begun.


This is speculation: I am sure gay people got married all the time back then, just not to the same sex. Usually a daughter or son didn't have much of a choice in the matter.


I say this all the time, at the least marriage has another meaning because we marry bottles of ketchup all the time in the restaurant industry, among other bottled items. Two things coming together to be one.


I am not trying to insult anyone, but just go read. Pick up an actual encyclopedia and look up "marriage." After that, whatever, but words change meaning ALL THE TIME, and marriage has since the institution was INVENTED.

 

from a social aspect its all tied to religion. Religious people think those that dont follow the teachings of the bible are out of line or evil and dont have any rights. The ongoing thing is to eliminate any rights they have as a person. The bible states a man shall not lay down with another man. So same sex marriages are against those teachings. IF you smoke, Drink and dont follow the commandments of the lord you are evil simple as that and so you dont deserve any rights because you are not a god fearing person.


It is even getting into the presidential running right now. Look at Romney shooting his mouth off that he doesnt condone same sex marriages because it is against his religion. I am really surprised he doesnt have more than one wife. ha ha


Obama is changeing his tune again says he agrees now because Romney is against it. Its really a bunch of crap.


I cant say I am really a religious person but I always figured if these people are not bothering me why should I care what they do. Passing laws to control others who dont have the same beliefs doesnt really make a lot of sense.


t6

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/21/north-carolina-pastor-gay-rant-starvation_n_1533463.html

Guess who is making signs and about to do some protesting.......:bong2:

 

protesting....god I wish I lived there.....i'd protest too, with a jug of gasoline and a match.

 

Nope. Peaceful and logical. I plan on getting on the news again. CNN is supposed to be there. I am wearing a nice outfit with my mane. My signs will be professional. I am recruiting the best I can now from my friends in NC.

 

that preacher must be smoking some GOOOOOOOOD to envision that kinda shit lol....

 

Moonshine. He can't even fucking pronounce "against."

 

Mr. Crazy Bigot doesn't seem to realize that it doesn't matter if they are in a fenced-in area or not. They will not reproduce either way (at least not in the normal way). In fact, I would guess the vast majority of "lesbians, queers, AND homosexuals" were produced by straight couples.

 

And the county manager is trying to stop us from meeting on public property to protest. I already called his office and sent an e-mail. This is about to get into some weird areas. I've only done a few protest but they were big organized ones, so this will be interesting for being so local.

 

Well they gave in and are letting us protest. The estimates online are over a thousand people going to this small ass NC town. I am not sure I believe that, but it will be interesting. I will make sure to take some pics for yall to see what is going on down here in the South on the side of tolerance.


So far none of my friends have the balls to go despite their agreeing, but I will know one person, a gay guy that used to work for my wife until she switched studios that we are friends with. I have a feeling not knowing anyone will be fine though and I will get to meet a lot of like minded people.


Sign is 60% done and I got the military lines in my dress clothes. I am ready.

 

She is the cuntiest cunt in all of Cuntlandia. No worries

 

It is interesting that Crazy Christians are the only ones who came to counter-protest. I am really not sure what fucking bible they are reading, but they refused to tell anyone where in the bible they were quoting anyway, or respond to any counter arguments. Dumb people yelling scripture I am pretty sure they were just making up.. I am not saying all the protesters were geniuses, but damn, at least know the ACTUAL words of your god before spouting interpretations that are worse than the King James translation.

 

Better make sure somebody has a video camera going if the cops show up to prevent or record abuse.


t6

 

There were four news channels and almost everyone had either a camera or a smart phone. The entire town's police department was out in full force, but they were standing next to the nut jobs for the most part because there were thousands of us and six of them. It was peaceful exactly like it should have been.

 

Yah, we got a special kind of Baptist in NC. Apparently,though, most of the preachy people there were bused in from that crazy ass church in Georgia that is one of the ones that protest soldier funerals.


Also found out two citations were given for the whole day: One to one of the preachys for using a bullhorn which is apparently illegal in the county, and another to some dumb ass letting his minor hold a sign out of a moving car while not wearing a seat belt.