Despite all evidence to the contrary, the myth that President Obama secretly opposes same-sex marriage persists among the liberal blogosphere. A theory supported, disappointingly, by some individuals whom I expect better of.
President Obama has a clear record of supporting equal marriage rights, from the imminent end of DOMA to the administration's support for affording benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, and for ending discriminatory laws not related to marriage that are related to LGBT rights, such as the end of DADT.
Add to the list an official statement today from OFA that the president opposes a ballot initiative in Minnesota, which will appear on the November ballot, that would ban same-sex marriage.
The Obama campaign has announced its opposition to the marriage amendment that will be on the November ballot in Minnesota that would restrict marriage only to opposite-sex couples there, echoing a theme from its earlier opposition to such an amendment in North Carolina that will appear on the May primary ballot. [...]
According to a statement released today by Obama for America Minnesota Communications Director Kristin Sosanie, she said, "While the President does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the record is clear that the President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same sex couples."
In the statement provided to Metro Weekly, she continued, "That's what the Minnesota ballot initiative would do -- it would single out and discriminate against committed gay and lesbian couples -- and that's why the President does not support it."
The Obama campaign has chosen to oppose several ballot initiatives to ban same-sex marriage, one of which will appear on a general election ballot, yet somehow the theory that the Obama campaign doesn't want to make this a general election issue is still out there. Much to my dismay.
Given that the president has personally spoken the words that he supports equal marriage rights, and that the policies of his administration directly reflect that position, and that his campaign has taken these positions, I'm not sure what else he can do that wouldn't end up being the equivalent of wearing a flag lapel pin.
This president has been more friendly to the LGBT community than any previous president, and public opinion is already moving in the right direction without making the issue entirely about him.