After years of pressure from the American public, civil rights groups and the media, President Barack Obama gave a definitive answer on his stance on gay marriage Wednesday morning in an interview with ABC's Robin Roberts.
In the video, which you can watch to the right, Obama says 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.”
With this announcement, Obama becomes the first sitting American president to publicly and officially offer support for gay marriage. For now, his views remain personal and not related to any policy.
What do you think of Obama's announcement? Is it long overdue? Unnecessary as gay marriage is handled by the states? Vote in the poll below and tell us in the comments!
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