President Obama today came out and endorsed same-sex marriage, saying “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.” It’s big news, but he’s only the latest to voice support for the idea that all loving couples should have the same rights. Here are 12 other big endorsements for marriage equality.
“Who do you love?” That’s the question Vice President Joe Biden asked when saying he is comfortable with same-sex marriage earlier this month, maybe getting a little ahead of the administration, though education secretary Arne Duncan jumped right on board and into the spotlight.
Then-San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom said in 2008 that gay marriage everywhere would be “inevitable.” That same year, celebrities jumped on the bandwagon against Prop 8, California’s ban on same-sex marriage, starting with the team from Funny or Die, who released Prop 8 – The Musical starring Jack Black as Jesus, so you know it’s a must-watch. Outspoken gay rights activist Kathy Griffin and other celebs joined forces for an anti-Prop 8 ad spot before the 2008 election. And Drew Barrymore told a crowd at a Prop 8 protest, “I will fight with you,” in 2009.
New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg called on the NY State Legislature two years later to legalize same-sex marriage in that state. George W. daughter Barbara Bush even did an ad for marriage equality where she invited New Yorkers to support the issue. And they did. Lady Gaga kicked it with the ladies on The View to talk about celebrating New York’s legalization of gay marriage, saying she told her lesbian yoga teacher, “you’re going to get married, baby.”
Kristin Chenoweth pointed out that she can be a Christian and still believe that people who love each other should be allowed to be married. Director Rob Reiner said late in 2011 that marriage equality for the gay community is the last piece of the civil rights puzzle being put into law. And now Obama has evolved to the same view, though he’s leaving the legal question to the states… for now.
