US President Barack Obama announced today that he supports same sex marriage. This is the first time in history that a U.S. President has openly endorsed gay marriage.
President Obama told ABC anchor Robin Roberts in an interview that is scheduled to air on “Good Morning America” Thursday morning, he said:
“I think same sex couples should be able to get married.”
“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.”
Obama also went on Twitter to voice his support behind gay marriage with the following tweet.
“Same-sex couples should be able to get married.”—President Obama
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 9, 2012
According to retweetingobama.com, a website set up by @BaconSeason to track the number of times Obama’s tweet has been retweeted, The US President’s same-sex marriage tweet received 59,686 Re-tweets in nearly 7 hours.
This screenshot is taken nearly 7 hours after the tweet was sent, it has already gotten 59,686 RTs
The President’s announcement comes three days after Vice President Joe Biden voices his support behind gay marriage.
Celebrities immediately took to Twitter to react to the news.
Ellen DeGeneres @TheEllenShow – “Thank you President @BarackObama for your beautiful and brave words. I’m overwhelmed.”
Neil Patrick Harris @ActuallyNPH – “Bravo, Mr. President, and thank you.”
Jane Lynch @janemarielynch – “Obama: Marriage? Gay is okay!” “Pretty darn happy today. Thanks Mr President, for supporting the dignity of my family and so many others!”
Jesse Tyler Ferguson @jessetyler – “With @MichelleObama & @JustinMikita permission I would like to marry @BarackObama right now!”
Ricky Martin @ricky_martin – “I applaud President @barackobama for affirming that ALL Americans should enjoy equal rights. Historic! I will be a very proud host on Monday”
Kathy Griffin @kathygriffin – “POTUS & VPOTUS: turns out,gays & lesbians should have SAME rights as rest of the country,shouldn’t be ’3/5ths’ citizens #evolved”
AB @alecbaldwin – “Obama gets it right on gay marriage. Bravo.”
Justin Timberlake @jtimberlake – “@barackobama inspires me once again. True leadership is when you are willing to risk your power and voice so that ALL of ours can be heard.”
Kim Kardashian @KimKardashian – “Thank you, President Obama! No more living in the past!”
She added on her website: “Wow… I just heard that President Obama has officially announced that he supports gay marriage!! This is such a huge step forward in our country’s fight for civil rights and I hope that today this will give hope to so many young people across the country. We’ve never had a president so supportive of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and today I am proud to be an American!! I’m so happy that our country is making history and moving forward. No more living in the past!”
Eva Longoria @EvaLongoria – “This is an incredible day in the history of civil rights in America. I applaud President @BarackObama and all he has done for LGBT Americans. #Equality”
Adam Levine @adamlevine – “thank you @BarackObama for reminding us all that true leadership is not dead.”
Dianna Agron @DiannaAgron – “Open our hearts & minds! Proud of Obama for speaking up.” “Love is love.”
Zach Braff @zachbraff – “Very proud of our president today.”
Kevin Bacon @kevinbacon – “Way to go Obama! Step in the right direction for human rights”
MichelleTrachtenberg @RealMichelleT – “Proud to have a President who supports Equality. #Obama”
John Cho @JohnTheCho – “Dear Mr. President: nice going. I like it.”
Ricki Lake @RickiLake – “Love is love! #Marriageequality Thank you Mr. President @BarackObama”
Russell Simmons @UncleRUSH – “thank you Mr. President for your support of gay marriage…”
Andy Cohen @BravoAndy – “THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT ”
Debi Mazar @debimazar – “Thank you Mr.President!”
Sophia Bush @SophiaBush “Thank you Mr. President. @BarackObama speaks up for #Equality today. #LoveIsLove”
Chely Wright @Chely Wright – “The President has just stated publicly that he believes ‘same sex marriage should be legal’. I am proud. Thank you @BarackObama”
Lynda Carter @RealLyndaCarter – “Well done Mr. President!”
Eliza Dushku @elizadushku – “#Breaking: President Obama announces support for ALL/equal marriage!! #FreedomToMarry”
Michelle Branch @michellebranch – “YAY Obama!! #EqualityForAll”
Michael Urie @michaelurie – “Well done, Mr. President. Well done indeed! #MarriageEquality #obamaftw”
Ellen Page @EllenPage – “Yes! Go Obama! #MarriageEquality #LGBT”
Jamie Bell @1jamiebell – “Good for you Mr. Obama. Good for you.”
George Takei @GeorgeTakei – “A day after NC’s shame, President Obama does the right thing. Read my response at That Blog Is So Takei.”
Sarah McLachlan @SarahMcLachlan – “I love Obama and today I love him even more for his strong statement in support of same sex marriage………”
Taye Diggs @TayeDiggs – “I’m very proud to have a president who is vocally in support of same sex marriage. Today marks a watershed moment in American History.”
Piers Morgan @piersmorgan – “BREAKING NEWS: President Obama just endorsed gay marriage. One small step for him..one giant leap for mankind.”
Suze Orman @SuzeOrmanShow – “I am soooo PROUD of you PRESIDENT OBAMA YES YES YES it is about time. Marriage Equality is so very very important.”
Audra McDonald @AudraEqualityMc – “YEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!! Thank you Mr President.” “How many young lives did the President just save by saying that he supports them today? #Equality”
Devon Sawa @DevonESawa – “I’ve got a lot of respect for the President.”
Emma Caulfield @emmacaulfield (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”)- “Obama backs gay marriage. this election just got kicked up a notch.”
Stuart Townsend @Stu_Townsend – “sad that same-sex marriage is only now being endorsed by Obama, but at least it’s a start,makes me wonder which century I’m in. love is love”
Wilson Cruz @wcruz73 – “A BRAND NEW DAY! NOW WE MUST SUPPORT HIM IN TURN! TURNOUT!! OBAMA ENDORSES GAY MARRIAGE… DEVELOPING…”
Anthony Rapp @albinokid – “So happy to see Obama do the right thing (and take a big political risk) by saying same sex marriage should be legal. Yay 4 #courageandsense”
Paul Iacono @paul_iacono (“Hard Times of RJ Berger”) – “Thanks Mr. President proud day.”
Ross Mathews @helloross – “OMG, it’s official! Obama becomes 1st president to support gay marriage!!! Historic day!”
About Bruce Cat
Jack Kieffer (17)
Sheniz Raif (6)
guest (5)
Stella Inchaurregui Kennedy (5)
Daniel Wall (4)
Dbakeca Italia (3)
Eduardo Shiroma (3)
Austin Danger Powers (2)
B23 (2)