Obama Wades Into Washington State Marriage Debate
Obama Wades Into Washington State Marriage Debate
SEATTLE, Wash. One day after publicly coming out in favor of same-sex marriages, President Obama waded into Washington States debate over the unions, telling supporters at a Seattle fundraiser to vote against an expected November referendum that would overturn a new same-sex marriage law.
Here in Washington youll have the chance to make your voice heard on the issue of making sure that everybody, regardless of sexual orientation, is treated fairly. You will have a chance to weigh in on this, Obama said inside Seattles Paramount Theater. We are a nation that treats people fairly. Were not going backwards, were not going backwards, were going forwards.
The comments were Obamas first on marriage since his interview with ABC News on Wednesday, when he announced a reversal of his longstanding opposition to same-sex nuptials. He said winds of change sweeping the country, as well as conversations with his staff, openly gay and lesbian service members, and his wife and daughters, helped change his view.
They also followed the approval Tuesday of a constitutional ban on same-sex unions in North Carolina a move Obama opposed, but never publicly addressed.
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