A few days ago, Vice President Joe Biden sat down for an interview and among the many topics, he said he believed that gays and lesbians should be allowed the same rights that heterosexuals have been taking advantage of since before speech replaced sign language. After said interview, many critics were wondering when was President Barack Obama going to speak out on the same issues, since he has shied away from the marriage equality issue for most of his first term as President.
Now two days later, President Obama sat down for an interview with Robin Roberts, where he took the time to finally show his support for same-sex marriage.
Says President Obama: “You know when I go to college campuses, sometimes I talk to college Republicans who think that I have terrible policies on the economy, on foreign policy, but are very clear that when it comes to same-sex equality or, you know, sexual orientation, that they believe in equality. They are much more comfortable with it. You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we’re talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sasha, it wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently. It doesn’t make sense to them and, frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective.”
I am eternally grateful for the president for abolishing DADT, and I get that he had to not necessarily jump on the same sex issue because we have many more important things in the U.S. to worry about (like the economy, jobs, etc.), but I feel this is typical presidential rhetoric where you are all of a sudden coming out in support of an issue because it's election season.
Either way as an independent I will support Obama for a second term (because I don't see anything changing for the better with stiff ass Mitt Romney), and while I know it will take a very long time for Obama to undo the mess of the last 30 years, which was finally brought on the verge of collapse by President Bush #2, I feel much more will get done in his second term in regards of LGBT issues. But let's get the economy back on track.
Shortly after President Obama's endoursement, many celebrities including Neil Patrick Harris and Ellen Degeneres took to Twitter to express their excitement.
“Thank you, President Obama! No more living in the past!” tweeted Kim Kardashian.
“Thank you Mr. President for your support of gay marriage…” wrote hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.
“Such an exciting day!!!” echoed fashion stylist Rachel Zoe.
“Almost all of the NY trends listed on Twitter right now are about marriage equality. Amazing!” posted Real Housewives of New York star Ramona Singer.
"Bravo, Mr. President, and thank you," Neil Patrick Harris tweeted. The actor is engaged to his longtime partner, David Burtka, and the pair adopted twins together in 2010.
"Open our hearts & minds! Proud of Obama for speaking up," wrote "Glee" actress Dianna Agron, with co-star Chris Colfer tackinghis happy thoughts onto those of Ellen DeGeneres: "I second! RT @TheEllenShow: Thank you President @BarackObama for your beautiful and brave words. I'm overwhelmed."
"Star Trek" and "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" star Simon Pegg summed things up succinctly with initials and an emoticon: "GO BO!!! :)"
If there were awards handed out for the most LOL-inducing celeb tweet, that would go to "Modern Family" star Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who had a message for the first lady and his partner: "With @MichelleObama & @JustinMikita permission I would like to marry @BarackObama right now!"
Excerpts of the interview will air tonight on “World News With Diane Sawyer,” as well as tomorrow morning on GMA.
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