QUEERTY QUERY

QUESTION: Did Obama Say The Right Thing On Gay Marriage—And Was It The Right Time?

Welcome to The Queerty Query, where we raise questions and ask you, the readers, to weigh in. Sometimes the questions will be funny, sometimes they’ll be serious—it all depends what the chatter around the water cooler is.

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In the wake of Amendment One’s passage in North Carolina, President Obama gave a historic speech today, in which he affirmed his commitment to marriage equality:

“I’ve stood on the side of broader side of equality for the LGBT community. I had hesitated on gay marriage, in part because I thought civil unions would be sufficient, that that was something that would give people hospital vistitations, elements…  And I was sensitive to the fact that, for a lot of people, the word marriage was something that evokes very powerful traditions, religious beliefs, and so forth…

Did Obama Say The Right Thing On Gay Marriage At The Right Time?

[But] 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 that same-sex couples should be able to get married.”

We gotta say, after losing the Amendment One battle and Republicans stalling civil unions in Colorado, his words brought a smile to our face. But should we be thanking him? Did the President use the “evolving” excuse for so long that a late-stage announcement like this has lost its punch? Or is coming out in favor of gay marriage before the election a miscalculation?

Lastly, Obama clearly said “for me, personally.” Is that an indicator it won’t affect federal policy?

We’re not calling it one way or the other—we’ll leave that to you. Give us your take in the comments section.

 

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