President Obama certainly didn’t have to come out in support of same-sex marriage; he could have done what all politicians do and stayed quiet on this issue until after the election. But he didn’t and his comments today were brave in a time when politicians tend to say what is politically correct. But it’s a huge political risk, one that might cost him the White House.

This afternoon, President Obama became the first sitting American president to express support for gay marriage. Obama said he hesitated on endorsing same-sex marriage in the past because he "thought that civil unions would be sufficient." The President said his opinion has since evolved, but any policy decisions should still come from individual states, not the White House.

Supporters of gay marriage are celebrating the announcement, which comes the day after North Carolina voters passed a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Critics believe the timing of President Obama's decision to take is a stance on the issue is purely political. What do you say?

What's your reaction to President Obama expressing support for same-sex marriage? Will his opinion lead to more states adopting gay marriage laws? Why do you think Obama decided to speak out now? Will this help or hurt his re-election campaign?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

The sign of a true leader is one who is thoughtful, listens to the people and has the intelligence to change his mind when it's called for. By publicly supporting same-sex marriage, President Obama proved that he does not stay stuck in old prejudices, but changes with the times. This is a civil rights success for LGBT Americans and all Americans.

Bobbie
Sheepshead Bay

I think everything politicians do is political but I think this is the right decision. It took me some time to come around because I felt civil unions were sufficient but it does seem discriminatory. Gays have kids who need protection and polls show people are changing on this subject.

Teri
Jackson Heights

He has secretly been a supporter all along, and is far more liberal personally then he demonstrates publicly. It's for political reasons that he's moved further to the middle; it was necessary for him to move to the middle to win the election. For the 2012 election, he is doing all he can to distinguish himself from his very far to the right competition (Romney). He wants to bring the LBGT community out to the polls come election day, so yes, in that sense it is a political decision, but still an honest one.

Barri
Jackson Heights

THIS IS ALL A POLITICAL MOVE ON OBAMA'S PART.

Why is this so important again? What about all of the other problems that we have that should get priority. We are in a mess in this country.

We all have a right to give our opinion and they need to stop the arrogance towards the ones that have a different opinion than they do.

This should be put on a ballot to vote on but since the results are not in their favor they don't want it to be done that way.

All of these so called politicians just use New York for a stepping stone and in the end they make these ridiculous man made laws that we have to live with.

I said from the beginning why is this Cuomo using strong arm tactics to get his way with the voting on anything.

The best example is the theatrics of Christine Quinn when she noticed that she was getting nowhere with the results she wanted in the voting of same sex marriage. What she did to us was despicable.

She pulled a Nancy Pelosi and shook her finger at all of us and said that if it didn't pass we would all be responsible if her father died before he could see her getting married.

Then she goes upstate BEHIND CLOSED DOORS with Cuomo and came up with a decision and that is not the way to do it.

A while after that someone asked her at a conference of some kind when is she going to get married.

She answered that her and her niece were going to get together and plan it. Now I surely thought that she would have been the first one in line and I was sure that Bloomberg would be the one giving the blessing.

WHAT IS UP WITH ALL OF THIS?

What happened to all of the laws involving marriage in New York State? Do they just become obsolete?

Or do they have the power to change them.

NEW YORK STATE HAS THE STRICTEST LAWS WHEN IT COMES TO DIVORCE AND ONE CAN ONLY GET A DIVORCE ON ADULTERY.

WHERE ARE ALL THE OTHER POLITICIANS FROM OUR STATE THAT ARE LIVING HIGH ON THE HOG IN ALL OF THIS?

EVERYONE IS SO TOUCHY ABOUT BEING LABELED AND WE THAT HAVE GOTTEN A DIVORCE HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT STIGMA ALL OF OUR LIVES. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO TAXING US ON ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WE ARE TAXED TO DEATH AND CONSIDERED [SINGLE] NOT FAIR AT ALL.

GIVE US A BREAK.

Maxxiee
Morris Park

The problem is the word “marriage.” It has from its inception meant a relationship between a man and a woman. It ought stay that way because once you allow words to be flexible in meaning, intelligent conversation becomes impossible.

I hasten to add that I am not opposed to lesbian or homosexual commingling. Just get another name for the relationship.

Oh. And tell the government to take a walk. Neither homosexual nor heterosexual commingling is the governments business nor is it the business of any individual.

Joe
Port Richmond

I think the president made a bold move for the sake of civil liberties and justice for gays, especially coming after the vote in North Carolina, outlawing same sex marriages, politically it might cost him, but the cost in my view would be marginal.

Felix
Bay Ridge

I would rather see a "politically inspired" decision that supports the civil rights of our citizens than a politically inspired decision that denies people civil rights.

Rev. R. M.

President Barack Obama is the first president to come out in support of same-sex marriage.Now I am a Catholic and a grand knight in the Knights of Columbus and firmly believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. For the president coming out for same-sex marriage is a political move that I believe is going to backfire on his goal of a second term.. President Obama ought to be more concerned for the economy and the millions of men and women out of work, than support an issue that is an attack on the sanctity of marriage.

Frederick

Oh my God, oh my God Skinners could it be that President Obama has finally come to realize that he is not to make law he is to enforce the law? Who knew? Listen to me America, we need to stop his now, God is watching, and so is your republic! Look at our history, where in law is gay --which is anything but if you are to listen to the statistics of their relationships -- marriage been legal? where in any religion? Did anyone read the preamble to the of The Defense of Marriage Act? No none of you did. It was to protect the right of reproduction. Homosexuals are not entitled to that protection because they between the two of them cannot produce a child. "Arise and shine America pick up thy bed and walk."

I hope that President Obama's "evolved" and enlightened position was a calculated
political move and not merely cleanup after a Biden gaffe, and I hope that his
courageous stand doesn't cost him support in the Black churches, which have
been in the forefront of the opposition to same sex marriage.

As for those bible-thumping, homophobic, missionary position troglodytes in
North Carolina, it's no wonder they don't believe in evolution, never having
experienced it themselves.

BIG ANDY
Manhattan Beach

It's a huge step in the right direction of equal rights for all.

I often wonder how everyone against it, including the cardinal who called it 'eroding' don't consider the more than 50% national divorce rate not equally eroding of the so called sanctity...Perhaps if divorce were illegal people might see things differently!

This country was not built one religious groups beliefs, it was built on philosophy, freedom, and rights for all.

Joe
Long Island City

I think that is finally time that the president stand up for a reality. So many other small countries have done it and is a national law not only states. We are sooooo behind that I can not believe that other countries are ahead of us.

I would suggest to use a dictionary and find the definition of what marriage means, not only what the church or the congress think. The real definition of the word MARRIAGE. The state of being united to a person of the opposite or the same sex as a husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law. Or in the case to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage

Alberto
Hamilton Heights

One hopes President Obama's statement will clarify, once and for all, he IS a man for whom "all are created equal" is more than lip service.

RoughAcres

I think president Obama proved to America that's its okay to support the rights of other. He made a stand for the rights of others. Being able to voice his opinion really made me happy. I think that everyone have there own opinion and might disagree with the president but its only rights to make it ok for gays to marry because everyone deserve to have equal rights

Obama policy on same sex marriges shows that this country is up and ready for change.

GO OBAMA

Nedim
Sunnyside

I am so disappointed by President Obama's decision. There are still religious people in the USA, and the bible forbids two people of the same sex from having a relationship. The bible that he held to swear in as President says such relations is a sin. No votes from my family President Obama.

I am in support for same-sex marriage and I am a Catholic and a senior citizen and believe me, Jesus would not condemn this issue. Many states do not recognize same-sex marriage and that is so hypocritical. There was a time when I was against "black and whites" getting married. Who cares who marries who? If an individual loves someone and wants to marry that person, then God Bless them. More than half of the United States is GAY and that doesn't count the people who are still in the "closet."

I hope this will lead more states to adopt pro-gay marriage laws. I think President Obama decided to speak now because like I said, this issue affects more that half of the population in this country and I am sure this will NOT hurt his re-election campaign because there are many, many more important items that this country has to take care of. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

Ralph
Bay Ridge

President Obama expressing his support for Same-Sex marriage is an incredibly important step in the right direction. I feel he obviously has given this a lot of thought, and expressed his opinion eloquently.

And those who point to religion are nowhere to be found when the like of Kim Kardashian make a true mockery of the "sanctity of marriage".

I hope that the President's affirmation today will cause people across the country to realize that if two COMMITTED, CONSENTING ADULTS wish to get married, there is NO REASON why they should not.

Lisa
Brighton Beach

It may be a political move, but so be it. If that is what it takes for a segment of our population to have equality, then let it be a political move. As long as it takes the argument where it needs to go.

AKL

He finally realized that 'EVERYTHING THAT GROWS - CHANGES!"
That pertains to peoples' thoughts...

Eddie

Goverment officials are elected by the people and should goverment should exist for the sake of the people.

Regardless of what you religiously believe or what you think the definition of marriage should be, EVERY single person has the right to love and marry the person they choose.

Obama was courageous for making this decison. Politically his uphill fight has been there from the first day he took office.

He inherited a position and economy that had already been deeply negetively effected by the previous administration and this vote has nothing to do with that.

He is merely leading this country and making history!

Sue
Astoria

Whatever happened to the wise old saying, “You can’t please all of the people, all of the time”? By constantly trying to please every group of every diversity, you wind up pleasing no one, but now that the bar has once again been lowered to please yet another group, I guess the next step is to lower the bar even more by recognizing the marriages of people to their pets, to their doll collections, and whatever else they can dream up. All the founding fathers would be rolling over if they could see the America of today. I was undecided who to vote for, but now I know it won’t be Obama.

Walter
New Dorp

I suspect that the President’s personal opinion is that of traditional Christian churches (oh, wait, I forgot, he’s a closet Muslim) in that he is uncomfortable with the concept of gay marriage but that he understands that as President he has a responsibility to support equality for all American citizens.

And that’s the problem with Democrats. They keep thinking that they work for all Americans, not just the ones who voted for them.

Jayne
Manhattan

Great news. Like Lincoln, Obama is a historic president from Illinois that supports civil rights.

Larry
East Village

Just a little fact for the people misusing the Bible and Christianity to defend their hatred of gays and lesbian:

Leviticus 18.22 says, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” (NRSV) And Leviticus 20.13 says, “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them.” (NRSV)

The word “abomination” in these passages is not a very good translation. The Hebrew word toevah means something that is ritually unclean and it was used in lots of other contexts, particularly dietary laws. Pork is toevah. A lot of Christians who try to use these passages to condemn gay people overlook the fact that they, too, are toevah because of the bacon they had for breakfast. Bloody meat also is toevah, so that medium rare steak you had for dinner last week also made you unclean.

The fact is, Leviticus forbids a lot of questionable things that by today’s standards, most Christians ignore. For example, Leviticus 9.27 states, “You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.” (NRSV) So, according to this, a shave and a haircut are an “abomination” as well. It really depends on how you look at it, etymologically.

It's aberrant behavior -- it goes against the normal order of nature. What's next? Can I marry my dog?

I Cannot believe Obama Fell for this Gay Rights and Marriage Question....It is Always Used by the GOP when they Know They Are IN trouble!

DMD
Washington Heights

The president is dividing our country. He says everyone should be free to love whoever they want. But where do you draw the line with whom you love? Should Lamda the man, boy assocation be free to love each other or should a brother and sister marry? The president says he is a Christian but he doesn't act like one. Even president Clinton wouldn't validate gay marriage. The homosexual group is a very small group who is running our country. They seem to have very good jobs where must folks are losing theirs. They seem to have lot of power over us. God help us!

Isn't it odd how pious these weekend Christians are? They go to church on the weekends, acting as though they know everything about the Bible and can quote it from cover to cover. They might try reading it again, and this time with a more scholarly translation. They might be amazed at what they find out. Even more disturbing is Timothy Dolan's most un-Christian comment.

Keith
Inwood

I WILL NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA MARRIAGE IS ENTERING HOLY !!! MATRIMONY
IT IS A SMACK IN GOD'S FACE.

Wow, why now? He's been in office for 4 years and now he wants to support Gay marriage! This makes me skeptical he's saying this just to be reelected!

Sandra
Corona, NY