President Obama on Same-Sex Marriage

President Obama believes in equal rights for same-sex couples. He called for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, calling it unconstitutional (“The President’s Record on Equal Rights”). The Defense of Marriage Act was passed in 1996 and said that if same-sex marriage is legal in one state other states do not have to recognize the marriage. The act also defines a marriage as “the legal union between one man and one woman” (Savage). President Obama called the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional because same-sex couples were being denied federal benefits equal to those of heterosexual couples (Savage).  President Obama and his administration were also “the first to provide hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights to same-sex couples” (“The President’s Record on Equal Rights”). In May of 2012, President Obama confirmed in an interview with ABC News, “…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” (Klein).

 Video retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vTRrDLJXu8&feature=player_embedded

Video retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qecdYEAby5I

Works Cited

Klein, Rick. “President Obama Affirms His Support for Same Sex Marriage.” Yahoo.com. ABC News, 9 May 2012. Web. 27 Jun. 2012. < http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/president-obama-affirms-his-support-for-same-sex-marriage.html>

 

Savage, David G. “Federal appeals court rules Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional.” LATimes.com. Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2012. Web. 27 Jun. 2012. < http://articles.latimes.com/2012/may/31/news/la-pn-doma-appeals-court-20120531>

 

“The President’s Record on Equal Rights.” BarackObama.com. Obama for America, n.d. Web. 27 Jun. 2012. < http://www.barackobama.com/record/equal-rights?source=primary-nav>