Gay Marriage: After Obama Speaks Out, So Does Nation

By Molly Hennessy-Fiske
Los Angeles Times
May 9, 2012

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-obama-gay-marriage-react-20120509,0,1443995.story

Advocates of gay marriage rushed to praise President
Obama on Wednesday after he expressed support for their
cause during a "Good Morning America" interview.
Opponents of gay marriage took the opportunity to speak
up as well.

"History! President Obama announces support of marriage
equality," the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation proclaimed on its website.

"The arc of history today bent a little closer to
equality for every American," GLAAD President Herndon
Graddick said in a statement. "After hearing the
stories of countless couples and families, President
Obama has drawn the same conclusion shared across party
lines and by a majority of Americans today: everyone
deserves the opportunity to marry the person they love.
As our nation draws closer to a more perfect union in
which every person is created equal, we are left deeply
encouraged by this truly watershed moment."

Ted Olson, the lawyer who helped lead the court
challenge to overturn California's ban on same-sex
marriages, Proposition 8, called Wednesday "a proud day
for all Americans."

"The bedrock American principles of freedom and human
dignity are central to the political and legal
convictions of Republicans, Democrats, liberals, and
conservatives alike," said Olson -- who served as U.S.
solicitor general under  President George W. Bush -- in
a statement released by the group that backed the court
case, American Foundation for Equal Rights. "President
Obama's words remind us that marriage and equality are
universal values that unite us all.  They remind us
that we are all - as a people and a nation - striving
to form a more perfect union."

Among celebrities tweeting their support for the
president were Neil Patrick Harris, Suze Orman, Russell
Simmons, Evan Rachel Wood and openly gay talk show host
Ellen Degeneres.

"Thank you President @BarackObama for your beautiful
and brave words," Degeneres tweeted, "I'm overwhelmed."

Jane Lynch, the openly gay star of "Glee," also tweeted
praise for the president.

"Obama: Marriage? Gay is okay!" Lynch tweeted. "Pretty
darn happy today. Thanks Mr President, for supporting
the dignity of my family and so many others!"

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also joined in.

"We stand w/Pres. Obama - love doesn't have a color,
love doesn't' care if you're gay or straight. Love
doesn't discriminate," Villaraigosa tweeted.

On the other side of the country, New York Mayor
Michael Bloomberg called the president's announcement
"a major turning point in the history of American civil
rights."

"No matter the setbacks, freedom will triumph over fear
& #equality will prevail over exclusion," he tweeted,
linking to his full statement.

Even some who have not been fans of the president in
the past, including John McCain's daughter Meghan,
congratulated him on taking a stand.

"Even though he did it a little late under political
pressure - very happy to hear the President come out in
support of gay marriage," McCain tweeted.
"Unfortunately the issue of gay marriage is still a
state to state issue that continues to lose at the
ballot box..."

Supporters of same-sex marriage attempted to capitalize
on the moment, noting that the president's announcement
came a day after North Carolina voters endorsed a
constitutional ban on gay marriage.

Aubrey Sarvis, president of the Washington D.C.-based
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said the
president's announcement was but a step in his evolving
policy on gay rights.

"Certainly, the president's leadership in repealing
`Don't Ask, Don't Tell' laid the foundation for his
reaching this positive outcome," Sarvis said in a
statement. "We welcome the president's support for
marriage and will work with him to repeal DOMA [the
Defense of Marriage Act] and all laws that undermine
equality."

Thinkprogress.org began emailing supporters an online
thank-you card Wednesday that the group intends to send
to the president.

"Obama will hear plenty from the members of the far
right who are determined to keep same-sex couples from
being treated like everyone else," founder Judd Legum
wrote in an email to supporters. "Make sure he hears
from you."

Copyright c 2012, Los Angeles Times

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