President Obama On TheConstitutional Right To Marriage Equality

Ever wondered what US President Obama's stance on marriage equality is? The New Yorker's Jeffrey Toobin had the chance to interview him, and the conversation dwelled into the direction of the marriage equality movement. Obama also expressed his belief that the U.S. Constitution requires all states to allow same-sex marriage.

image courtesy of communities.washingtontimes.com

The interview went on like this:

“In some ways, the decision that was just handed down to not do anything about what states are doing on same-sex marriage may end up being as consequential—from my perspective, a positive sense—as anything that’s been done. Because I think it really signals that although the Court was not quite ready—it didn’t have sufficient votes to follow Loving v. Virginia (where the Court held that states could no longer ban racial intermarriage) and go ahead and indicate an equal-protection right across the board—it was a consequential and powerful signal of the changes that have taken place in society and that the law is having to catch up.”

While Obama opposed marriage equality until May of 2012, he said in the interview that he now believes the Constitution requires all states to allow same-sex marriage. It is an argument that his Administration has not yet made before the Supreme Court.

He continues by saying:

“Ultimately, I think the Equal Protection Clause does guarantee same-sex marriage in all fifty states. But, as you know, courts have always been strategic. There have been times where the stars were aligned and the Court, like a thunderbolt, issues a ruling like Brown v. Board of Education, but that’s pretty rare. And, given the direction of society, for the Court to have allowed the process to play out the way it has may make the shift less controversial and more lasting."

Interesting. I wonder how this statement would impact equality movements not just in the US but across the globe?


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