Public Officials on Obama's Support of Same-Sex Marriage

The following are statements from officials on : 

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick: “President Obama has once again affirmed that we are a country that stands for the basic values of equality and opportunity. Since 2004, same-sex couples in Massachusetts have had the security of knowing that their families have the same rights and protections as every other family, including health care benefits and hospital visitation rights. The President's words today give same-sex couples across the country still awaiting those rights a powerful reason to feel hopeful." 

Matt O'Malley, District 6 Boston City Councilor: “It’s a great day for equality. I applaud President Obama for standing up for civil rights.”

John Connolly, At-Large Boston City Councilor: "I'm a strong supporter of marriage equality and I'm glad the President is too."

Felix Arroyo, At-Large Boston City Councilor: “I am proud to live in a Commonwealth where everyone has the right to marry the person they love and I am proud of the President for taking this position. This is a significant moment for civil rights in our country and I hope one day everyone will be treated equally under the law.”

Ayanna Pressley, At-Large Boston City Councilor tweeted: "@BarackObama made clear what's at stake in Nov- an America that lives up to its principles & promise or an America held hostage by bigots" and "Right about now, I bet @MittRomney wishes he had a LGBT spokesperson to run in front of the cameras and nuance his bigotry."

John Walsh, Chairman of the Massachusetts Democraticy Party provided the following comment:

"Today, President Obama announced that his personal view is that it’s wrong to prevent loving, committed couples who want to get married from doing so. Like many of us, the President has gone through some soul-searching on this issue and there’s no doubt that hearing from gay and lesbian couples, brave LGBT members of our military, staff members and folks who sent compelling letters about their lives helped shape the President’s view on marriage equality.
 
"From my own experience, I know that the best way to change people’s hearts and minds on issues of equality and fairness is to lift up the voices of those who face discrimination, harassment and hatred.
 
"While President Obama has endorsed equality and is moving forward, it is truly sad that our former governor and junior senator share a position on LGBT rights that seems to be moving backward. In 1994, Mitt Romney said he would be better for gay rights than Ted Kennedy, but now Mitt not only opposes same sex marriage and civil unions, he wants to add an amendment to the Constitution that would actually take rights away from the people.
 
"As historic an occasion as the President’s endorsement of marriage equality is, it is also a stark reminder of the choice Americans face in November. We can move forward with President Obama to a fairer, more just and more equal America or let Mitt Romney take our nation backward to the dark past when civil rights, like economic opportunity, were reserved for some, but not all."