Obama Proclaims 'Same-Sex Couples Should Be Able to Marry'
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FREE | MAY 17, 2012 | VOL. 2020 2012 | VOL. 17, | MAY ROMNEY: HIGH SCHOOL BULLY PREP WORK FOR ELLIOT-LARSEN EXPERIENCE QUEER COLUMBUS OBAMA PROCLAIMS ‘SAME-SEX COUPLES SHOULD THANK YOU BE ABLE TO MARRY’ MR. 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Email your op–eds and letters to Follow us @YourBTL [email protected] Receive our E–Digest – just sign up Chat on our FB Fan Page. Search today online “Between The Lines Newspaper” 4 BTL \ May 17, 2012 \ Michigan News www.PrideSource.com Gay rights backers see President Obama completes history in Obama’s stand BY DAVID B. CARUSO thought maybe the city could protect ‘evolution’ on gay marriage its employees or job candidates from NEW YORK (AP)–At a discrimination. BY LISA KEEN us all. They remind us that we are all- error was 3.5 points, making the birthplace of the modern gay rights In 1972, he became among -as a People and a Nation--striving to difference as small as 4.5 points. movement, patrons of New York the majority of council members to WASHINGTON D.C. – form a more perfect Union.” Although there were many big City’s Stonewall Inn said they felt adopt an anti-discrimination measure President Obama said in a White The interview, according to news stories erupting at the same like they were living history. In in hiring practices for the city - the House-arranged interview Wednesday numerous media reports, was pre- time--including news that the CIA had Wyoming, the mother of a man first such ordinance in the nation. afternoon that “same-sex couples arranged by the White House to stopped a plot to blow up a plane--the beaten to death because of his He experienced little backlash should be able to get married.” take place with ABC Good Morning mainstream media swarmed all over the sexuality said words couldn’t within the communities of East The statement, in an interview America anchor Robin Roberts of Biden story. CNN media commentator express her gratitude. An 82-year- Lansing and Michigan State with ABC, marks a significant and long Good Morning America. The media Howard Kurtz wrote, in a DailyBeast. old photographer who chronicled University, he said, though he expected “evolution” for President speculated the interview was set up com blog, “There is absolutely no protests in the 1960s called it “a recalled occasional criticism by Obama in his political position hastily and deliberately to quell the question that Biden’s response was new dawn.” voters during subsequent - but concerning same-sex marriage. political conflagration that erupted cleared by the White House. Vice President Barack Obama’s successful - campaigns for higher “I’ve always been adamant that Sunday, when Vice President Joe presidents are not allowed to freelance declaration Wednesday that he office. He served as Ingham County’s gay and lesbian Americans should Biden told NBC Meet the Press that he on talk shows, especially on such a supports gay marriage may have drain commissioner for 12 years, be treated fairly and equally,” said lacked the urgency of Kennedy’s retiring in 1993. Obama. “...I had hesitated on gay 1963 push for the Civil Rights Griffiths sees Obama’s marriage, in part because I thought Act, or the force and finality of the announcement as a natural civil unions would be sufficient.” But “I think same-sex couples Emancipation Proclamation, but it progression from the steps he and after talking to friends and family, was still being greeted as a major his colleagues took 40 years ago. neighbors and staff, he said, “I’ve just milestone among people who care “It’s a glacial movement,” he concluded that for me personally it should be able to get married.” about gay rights. said, “but I think people are coming is important for me to go ahead and “It signifies a history-changing around.” affirm that I think same-sex couples moment when a president finally should be able to get married.” President Barack Obama May 9, 2012 says, ‘I’m on your side.’ It’s a Reactions were dramatic. critical moment,” said Stacy Lentz, Vermont Evan Wolfson, head of the a co-owner of the Stonewall, a Holly Puterbaugh, 65, and national Freedom to Marry group, is “absolutely comfortable” with gay sensitive issue. So Obama was sending reincarnated version of the her partner, Lois Farnham, were said, “The President’s support marks a couples marrying and that he believes out Biden to further mollify the gay unlicensed gay bar in Manhattan’s among the three Vermont same-sex historic turning point for the freedom they should have the “exact same community without having to actually West Village that was the site of riots couples who sued the state in 1997 to marry movement.” rights” as straight couples to do so. take a stand himself.” MSNBC’s news following a police raid in June 1969. after they were denied a marriage Incoming Human Rights Prior to Wednesday, President anchor Chuck Todd said the White Just how big of a moment license. Their lawsuit led to the 1999 Campaign President Chad Griffin Obama has not previously expressed House was being especially “sensitive” remains to be seen. While public court decision that made Vermont said Obama’s remarks today would be pro-active legal support for same-sex about the remarks because “gay opinion polls show an increasing the first state to recognize same-sex “celebrated by generations to come.” marriage equality. In October 2010, money, in this election, has replaced number of Americans are receptive civil unions. “For the millions of young gay he told gay political blogger Joe Wall Street money.” to gay marriage, and accepting Back then, Puterbaugh never and lesbian Americans across this Sudbay that he was “unwilling to sign Interest in Obama’s position on of homosexuality in general, the would have believed a president nation, President Obama’s words onto same-sex marriage primarily” same-sex marriage was in the news movement hasn’t fared well at would someday back same-sex provide genuine hope that they will be because of his “understandings of the even prior to Biden’s remarks. The the ballot box. On Tuesday, North marriage, she said in a phone the first generation to grow up with the traditional definitions of marriage.” Obama re-election campaign had Carolina voters overwhelmingly interview Thursday. freedom to fully pursue the American He said “attitudes” about same-sex issued a statement in March, opposing approved a constitutional amendment “We’ve come a lot further a dream,” said Griffin. “...As President marriage “evolve, including mine.” the North Carolina Amendment One, defining marriage as between a man lot faster than I thought we would,” Obama recognized today, the fight to And he reiterated that position two which bans legal recognition of any and a woman. she said. “In ‘99, civil union was secure marriage equality is the defining months later, in an interview with The same-sex relationship. The statement Still, at mileposts and bastions considered the most outrageously element of our generation’s search for Advocate’s Kerry Eleveld, saying, said: “While the President does not in the struggle, Obama’s words were liberal thing going. Now it’s the greater freedom.” “My attitudes are evolving onthis.” weigh in on every single ballot measure being welcomed. conservative fallback. MSNBC commentator Chris Numerous times since then, in every state, the record is clear that “That tells me people are Matthews called it “earthshaking” and Obama and White House Press the President has long opposed divisive looking, they are thinking, they are predicted right-wing conservatives Secretary Jay Carney have been and discriminatory efforts to deny Michigan starting to really examine this as a “will use everything they can to exploit asked whether the president’s position rights and benefits to same sex couples. In the early 1970s, a waiter left true issue,” she said. this” politically in the November had yet evolved. With the Republican That’s what the North Carolina ballot his shift at a restaurant in the college Another couple in that landmark campaign. presidential race settling onto Mitt initiative would do - it would single out town of East Lansing, Mich., and lawsuit, Nina Beck and Stacy Jolles, Ted Olson, lead attorney for Romney, one national poll indicated and discriminate against committed was greeted affectionately by his had also viewed same-sex marriage the same-sex couples challenging the public didn’t see much difference gay and lesbian couples - and that’s boyfriend.