President Obama Says He Supports Gay Marriage

May 9, 2012

President Barack Obama, who previously said his views on the issue were "evolving," said this afternoon that he supports same-sex marriage, CNN reports. "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," Obama said in an interview with ABC News' Robin Roberts. Obama, who once opposed gay marriage, said he was "disappointed" by Tuesday's vote to implement a state constitutional ban on gay marriage in North Carolina, which he described as discriminatory. Obama's interview came just days after other key administration figures -- Vice President Joe Biden and Education Secretary Arne Duncan -- indicated support of gay marriage. Obama is the first president to take this position.