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President Obama Backs Same-Sex Marriage

By Jack Palmer
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
President Barack Obama speaks at the University of Albany on May 8. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
May 9, 2012
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In an interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts, Barack Obama became the first sitting President to affirm same-sex marriage.

In a clip of the interview released at 3pm this afternoon, the President noted his ‘evolving’ beliefs on the subject and that he felt that he was now able to “affirm” marriage for same-sex couples.

As reported by The Huffington Post, the President told Roberts:

"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."

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President Barack Obama speaks at the University of Albany on May 8. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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