"Our troops come from every corner of this country -– they’re black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American. They are Christian and Hindu, Jewish and Muslim. And, yes, we know that some of them are gay. Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love."The homosexualists wanted more -- the next step, same-sex 'marriage' -- in the speech.
-- President Obama 1/25/11
-- From "Robert Gibbs: President Obama ‘Thinks A Lot About’ Gay Marriage" by Tommy Christopher, Mediaite 1/24/11
Monday’s White House briefing consisted mainly of Press Secretary Robert Gibbs not answering questions about the specifics of President Obama’s State of the Union address, including whether he would bring up same-sex marriage in some form. The Blade’s Chris Johnson asked Gibbs about a 1996 questionnaire that indicated Obama’s support for same-sex marriage, and I followed up by asking if the President was any closer to revealing his “evolved” personal beliefs on the subject. Gibbs pointed to previous remarks by the President, and said it’s an issue that he “thinks a lot about,” but there are no immediate plans for him to address the issue.
Transcript (via email from The White House):
Christopher Johnson: I have some questions for you on marriage. Back in 1996, when the President was running to become Illinois state senator, he stated in a questionnaire response to what is now the Windy City Times that he supports same-sex marriage. He wrote, “I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages.” That’s not the President’s current position. Has he backtracked on an earlier commitment he made to gay and lesbian Americans?To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
MR. GIBBS: I think there’s a whole host of issues that I would direct you to during the campaign on different questionnaires. And I would again reiterate what the President has said recently on that issue.
From "Gibbs dodges question on Obama’s early marriage support" by Chris Johnson, Washington Blade (homosexualist news) 1/24/11
In the 1996 questionnaire response, Obama unequivocally stated his support for same-sex marriage, which is different from his current position on the issue. His position since has been that marriage should be reserved for one man and one woman. Still, the president has suggested his position could “evolve” on the matter and said last month he’s “wrestling” with the idea of marriage rights for gay couples.
Although he opposes same-sex marriage, Obama as a U.S. senator voted against a U.S. constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and said he supports full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex unions.
A number of gay rights supporters have called on Obama to declare support for same-sex marriage during the State of the Union address.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Gay-rights groups react to President Obama's State of the Union address regarding 'don't ask, don't tell'" by Steve Rothaus, Miami Herald 1/25/11
Today the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, reacted to the President’s State of the Union address in which he announced that open service by gays, lesbians and bisexuals in the U.S. Armed Forces would begin this year. HRC President Joe Solmonese issued the following statement:
“Very soon, what will matter in the U.S. military is how you do your job, not your sexual orientation. Last year the President committed to working with Congress to repeal the ban on open service by gay, lesbian and bisexual people and tonight’s announcement is welcome news for all Americans ready to close the book on discrimination in the ranks. Not only does repeal mean troops will be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, but our nation will be stronger with the best and brightest able to serve in uniform. Tonight is the culmination of a promise kept by this President.To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
“The issue most prevalent in tonight’s speech was jobs and with discrimination in the military soon behind us, there remain a number of pressing issues for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community when it comes to economic security. The President and Congress can do much more to ensure the economic empowerment of LGBT people including ending the unfair taxation of partner health benefits, prohibiting workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and ensuring that all married couples have access to the same federal benefits and protections for their families. We look forward to working with this President and allies in Congress on the challenges ahead.”
