9 May 2012
Last updated at 20:57 GMT
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Mr Obama has become the first sitting US president to back gay marriage.
In recent days, Vice-President Joe Biden and cabinet member Arne Duncan had expressed support for gay unions.
But Mitt Romney, the Republican who is set to challenge Mr Obama for the White House in November's elections, promptly said he was against gay marriage.
A Gallup poll on Tuesday suggested that 50% of Americans were in favour of legalising gay marriage - a slightly lower proportion than last year - while 48% said they would oppose such a move.
"At a certain point, 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," Mr Obama told ABC.
He pointed to his administration's commitment to increasing rights for gay citizens. He cited the repeal of the military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy and said his administration had dropped support for the Defense of Marriage Act.
"I've stood on the side of broader equality for the LGBT community. I hesitated on gay marriage in part because I thought civil unions would be sufficient," Mr Obama said.
He said he had changed his views after seeing gay members of his own staff who were in "incredibly committed monogamous relationships", and service personnel who felt constrained by not being able to wed.
Mr Obama also said discussions with his own family had helped the "evolution" of his views on the issue.
Romney: Position on marriage is the same position I had as governor
"There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting
around the dinner table and... Malia and Sasha, it wouldn't dawn on them
that somehow their friends' parents would be treated differently," Mr
Obama said.
"It doesn't make sense to them and frankly, that's the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective."
In 2010, Mr Obama said his views on the issue were "evolving", a stance that had frustrated gay rights supporters and donors.
His comments aired on Wednesday come a day after North Carolina approved a constitutional amendment effectively banning same-sex marriage or civil unions.
In the US, 31 states have passed constitutional amendments or legislation against same-sex marriage.
Meanwhile, Mr Romney set the stage for an election year clash over the polarising social issue by saying he was against gay marriage.
The former Massachusetts governor told a Fox News affiliate: "I do not favour marriage between people of the same gender, and I do not favour civil unions if they are identical to marriage other than by name.
"My view is the domestic partnership benefits, hospital visitation rights, and the like are appropriate but that the others are not."
Your comments (133)
Obama: "Same sex couples should be able to get married"
US
President Barack Obama has ended months of hedging on the issue of gay
marriage by saying he thinks same-sex couples should be able to wed.
In recent days, Vice-President Joe Biden and cabinet member Arne Duncan had expressed support for gay unions.
But Mitt Romney, the Republican who is set to challenge Mr Obama for the White House in November's elections, promptly said he was against gay marriage.
A Gallup poll on Tuesday suggested that 50% of Americans were in favour of legalising gay marriage - a slightly lower proportion than last year - while 48% said they would oppose such a move.
The interview with ABC News was
apparently hastily arranged as Mr Obama came under mounting pressure to
clarify his position on the issue.
He pointed to his administration's commitment to increasing rights for gay citizens. He cited the repeal of the military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy and said his administration had dropped support for the Defense of Marriage Act.
"I've stood on the side of broader equality for the LGBT community. I hesitated on gay marriage in part because I thought civil unions would be sufficient," Mr Obama said.
He said he had changed his views after seeing gay members of his own staff who were in "incredibly committed monogamous relationships", and service personnel who felt constrained by not being able to wed.
Mr Obama also said discussions with his own family had helped the "evolution" of his views on the issue.
Romney: Position on marriage is the same position I had as governor
"It doesn't make sense to them and frankly, that's the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective."
In 2010, Mr Obama said his views on the issue were "evolving", a stance that had frustrated gay rights supporters and donors.
His comments aired on Wednesday come a day after North Carolina approved a constitutional amendment effectively banning same-sex marriage or civil unions.
The Obama campaign had opposed that measure, which was passed with 61% in favour and 39% against.
Meanwhile, Mr Romney set the stage for an election year clash over the polarising social issue by saying he was against gay marriage.
The former Massachusetts governor told a Fox News affiliate: "I do not favour marriage between people of the same gender, and I do not favour civil unions if they are identical to marriage other than by name.
"My view is the domestic partnership benefits, hospital visitation rights, and the like are appropriate but that the others are not."
---
There is a risk in this. For some it will further brand Mr Obama as the devil in disguise, destroying the fabric of America. That sharpens the election, but it does no harm to his campaign.
Most social conservatives will not vote for Mr Obama anyway. But there are natural supporters, like African-American evangelical Christians, who won't like this. But Obama explicitly mentioned his religious faith:
"When we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it's also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated."
While not doubting that the president has struggled long and hard with this, this seems to me a deliberate moment.
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US gay marriage laws
- Same-sex marriage has been passed in New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont, Washington DC, Connecticut, Maryland and Washington
- Thirty-one US states have banned same-sex marriage through law or constitutional amendment
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