A judge’s ruling overturning the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage in California puts U.S. president Barack Obama on the spot.
Obama drew the ire of many in the LGBT community when he stated publicly that he opposed gay marriage but he also opposed “any measure singling out a group for adverse treatment by amending the U.S. Constitution or a state constitution, as Prop 8. did.” [link]
As gay and lesbian activists celebrate what they hope is the leading edge of a wave of momentous court rulings and legislative successes, they remain uneasy with Obama’s nuanced position on gay marriage.
During the 2008 campaign, Obama took what many on both sides of the gay marriage debate viewed as a straddle. He publicly announced his opposition to same-sex marriage, but he also said that he opposed the California ballot measure seeking to ban it, Prop. 8— the same ban Walker ruled unconstitutional Wednesday. Read more…
While gay rights activists called for Obama to “show his cards” following yesterday’s landmark ruling, the White House issued a tersely worded statement that reiterated Obama’s previous stance on the issue:
“The President has spoken out in opposition to Proposition 8 because it is divisive and discriminatory. He will continue to promote equality for LGBT Americans,” spokesman Ben LaBolt said.
But that wasn’t enough for some in the LGBT community:
“His position on Prop. 8 has always been clear. What has not been clear is how he squares his position for equality with his refusal to embrace actual equality in marriage. That is unclear, increasingly unclear, and there’s no good reason to explain it,” said Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry. “That’s an unsatisfying position that does nothing but frustrate those of us who look to him as the champion he promised to be…He’s not gaining anything and Judge Walker just made that crystal clear.”
Source: Politico
