First president to support gay marriage

New Jersey has failed in two attempts to get a gay marriage law passed. In DecemberPresident Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, which passed through Congress with bipartisan support, requiring all states to recognize same-sex and interracial marriages.

Ten years ago, and even five years ago, the majority of Americans were against any kind of marriage equality," he said. Christie has pushed for the issue of gay marriage to be decided in a referendum by voters. The president has long said his views on the subject were "evolving.

But has he ever shown such support?. President Obama made civil rights history and sent a seismic shock into national politics today, becoming the first American president to publicly support gay marriage. And Republican Gov. Public opinion on gay marriage has shifted in recent years, with most polls now finding the public evenly split, rather than opposed.

Pressure had been mounting for Obama to make a stand on the issue, after Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday said he was completely comfortable with gays marrying. Six states and the District of Columbia now allow same sex marriages.

Obama becomes first U : Obama’s announcement – coming after initially supporting gay marriage in , only to reverse himself by and more recently refusing to take a clear

Newark Mayor Cory Booker called it a "truly historic day" for the country and applauded the president. Romney has not generally raised the issue in his campaign, but earlier in the day said he did not favor civil unions "if they are identical to marriage other than by name.

Inas a candidate, he had made it clear he would sign a gay rights bill, and induring his presidency, the first-ever gay and lesbian delegation visited the White House to discuss. A Gallup poll released this week found 50 percent of all adults in favor of legal recognition of same-sex marriages, marking the second time that poll has found support for legal gay marriage at 50 percent or higher.

It also threw even more drama onto the national stage, where the issue will likely be bitterly debated between Obama supporters and religious conservatives in the fall election. A Quinnipiac University poll released in February showed backing for same-sex marriage in New Jersey climbed to a new high, 57 percent in favor compared to 37 percent opposed.

The Senate rejected a marriage bill two years ago. Mitt Romney, Obama's likely Republican rival in the fall, quickly voiced his opposition to the president. In his veto in February, the governor said same-sex couples in a civil union deserve the very same rights and benefits enjoyed by married couples, but concluded there was no fundamental constitutional right to same-sex marriage.

That is why I am especially proud of him. The president said first lady Michelle Obama also was involved in his decision and joined him in supporting gay marriage. Yet on Tuesday, voters in North Carolina — considered a potential battleground state in the fall election — approved an amendment to the state constitution affirming marriage be a union between a man and a woman.

While he conceded his support for same-sex marriage would reverberate negatively among religious conservatives, Obama said he thinks about his faith in part through the prism of the Golden Rule — treating others the way you would want to be treated.

LGBTQ+ conservatives insist that Donald Trump supports same-sex marriage rights. Former Gov. Jim McGreevey, whose secret affair with a male aide led to the downfall of his administration, called Obama's position a turning point in American history. McGreevey hails Obama's support of gay marriage, calling it 'a moral turning point'.

While he said that for many Americans, the word "marriage" evokes "very powerful positions," Obama declared he had come to the conclusion it was time for him to speak out on one of the most divisive issues of the day. Two other states have laws that are not yet in effect and may be subject to referendums.

State Sen. President Obama is choosing the money over the voters the day after 61 percent of North Carolinians in a key swing state demonstrated they oppose gay marriage.