Obama: same sex couples should be able to marry
- 12 years ago
U.S President Barack Obama weighed in on the highly divisive issue of gay marriage on Wednesday -- in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama saying:
"It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married."
This is the first time Obama the president has said he supports gay marriage.
He did not however, go as far as to support any nationwide change to the laws, saying it was a matter for individual states to decide.
Pressure built on the president to clarify his views after Vice President Joe Biden and other cabinet members expressed their support for gay marriage.
Earlier in his term, Obama ended the U.S. military's " Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that prevented gays from serving openly in the military.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama saying:
"It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married."
This is the first time Obama the president has said he supports gay marriage.
He did not however, go as far as to support any nationwide change to the laws, saying it was a matter for individual states to decide.
Pressure built on the president to clarify his views after Vice President Joe Biden and other cabinet members expressed their support for gay marriage.
Earlier in his term, Obama ended the U.S. military's " Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that prevented gays from serving openly in the military.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.