In an interview this afternoon with ABC News' Robin Roberts, Obama said: "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."
The interview followed yesterday's passage of North Carolina's Amendment 1, which limits marriage to being between a man and woman, and comments made by members of his administration ? Vice President Joe Biden and Education Secretary Arne Duncan ? expressing endorsement of marriage equality. Obama is the only sitting president to express support of gay marriage.
Until now, Obama has long remained in the middle of the gay marriage debate, carefully stating that he supported civil unions and that he was "evolving" on the issue. The only question now is, what effect will this have on this year's presidential election?
