President Barack Obama declared his support for gay marriage for the first time yesterday, and the reactions have been as varied as they have been abundant at Cal State Long Beach.
“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 on ABC’s Good Morning America.
While the political ramifications remain unclear at this point, Obama’s endorsement has been called a “gift” to the Romney campaign, but also a great step for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community.
“I think Obama’s public support for same-sex marriage is tremendous, since many LGBT supporters were worried about his wavering support of gay rights in his past term,” said via email James Suazo, openly gay president of the College of Liberal Arts Student Council. “This helps send a larger message internationally that America is slowly becoming more accepting of the LGBT rights.”
“It’s awesome,” illustration major Joyce Tsang said. “It’s awesome that a president stood up and said something about it.”
Obama had previously only expressed support for civil unions. He called his thought process on the matter an “evolution” and said that it comes down to “the Golden Rule – treat others the way you want to be treated.”
His new stance puts him clearly against Republican front-runner Mitt Romney and only fuels the fire for his critics.
“I just feel like [gay marriage] is something that’s being forced upon our society, and we’re forced to accept it,” junior social work major Aaron Kosterlytzky said. “I’m not against homosexuality – I have plenty of friends that are homosexual. It’s just, like, if it’s your private life, keep it that way.”
Whether or not the President’s support results in more legislation in favor of the LGBT community remains to be seen. He still believes it is an issue that needs to be decided at the state level.
“I’m hoping that with the president being very vocal … will create some sort of current inside Congress,” Gay-Straight Alliance member Samantha Young said.
Suazo voiced a similar opinion, stating that he felt “more confident in seeing him do more progressive work during another presidential term.”
The effects of Obama’s announcement will surely be felt in the upcoming election.
“I’ve always been against Obama,” Kosterlytzky said. “I knew [Obama’s endorsement] was coming eventually.”