Barack Obama Fully Supports Same Sex Marriage - May 9th 2012

In a historic move, President Barack Obama has become the very first President of the United States to voice support for marriage equality and same-sex marriage. A new interview with ABC News' Robin Roberts reveals that Obama, who has previously voted against marriage equality and in favor of civil unions, has changed his stance, explaining that his opinion has "evolved."

"It is important me to be able to affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married," he tells Roberts.

"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," he says.

Excerpts from the interview will air on Wednesday's edition of "World News Tonight," with a more thorough segment airing on Thursday's "Good Morning America."

He shares that his interactions with young people, from his own daughters to college-age voters, has helped his policies to shift.

"You know 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 says. "They are much more comfortable with it. You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we're talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sasha, 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."

Obama explains that he and wife Michelle have come to this conclusion together, and that it does not compromise their devotion to their Christian faith. "We are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it's also the Golden Rule," he says. "Treat others the way you would want to be treated. And I think that's what we try to impart to our kids and that's what motivates me as president and I figure the most consistent I can be in being true to those precepts, the better I'll be as a as a dad and a husband and hopefully the better I'll be as president."

Opponent Mitt Romney, of course, hasn't had such a change of heart.

"My view is that marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman," Romney says. "That's the position I've had for some time, and I don't intend to make any adjustments at this point. ... Or ever, by the way."

• Category

  News & Politics

[Alexx Scarlett]

Fuck you... If you were gay how would you like it if someone said that. I mean seriously. I would like to get married to my partner no questions asked. We are people just like you.

[Ron Charles]

Obama is right, and Romney is wrong. Marriage should be a right for all Americans. Concerned citizens can help make that happen by looking up the organizations fighting for it on Google:

Marylanders For Marriage

Mainers United For Marriage

-and-

Equal Rights Washington

Contribute at their websites to this good cause and make marriage equality a reality in these three states next month.

[Usul573]

We're hitting 11 states now, and next month the Supreme Court will decide something else probably giving us at least one more.

[Madison Mason]

i wish some the state i'm in would be legalized. /:

[Madison Mason]

Love is love.

[Maha Alajeel]

all i can say is he is an opportunistic person no more, he refused it before and now he want's gays' supprt for his presidency

[mark foster]

just cause he supports gay rights doesnt mean he is gay..thats like saying since jfk supported african americans during the civil rights movement then that means he is black

[wiwitaa koko]

respect from morocco

carry on and marry ur partner

we all deserve to have a right to marry our lovers

i'm gay too

[PeanutButterDigger]

Barack is an undercover fag! Lil bytch!

[rainbowgirl678]

Would it pass though? Absolutely not. With the supreme court cases coming up in exactly a month, I think he's letting them do the work, for now.

[Mochi Chan]

Love should never be illegal, people need to stop shoving their noses in other people's business. If gay people get married the sky is not going to come falling down, the only thing that happens is two people who love each other get married.

[Anon ymous]

He says that he supports gay marriage but he hasn't DONE anything to help make it happen. I realize he's not a dictator but he could certainly introduce a bill into congress that supports gay marriage in all 50 states.