President Obama endorses Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Respect for Marriage Act

President Barack Obama gives an update on the ongoing debt ceiling negotiations as he speaks to the media at the White House in Washington on July 19, 2011. UPI/Kevin Dietsch

The Obama administration has announced that they will endorse the Respect for Marriage Act introduced by California’s senior senator, Democrat Dianne Feinstein, which calls for a legislative repeal of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.

“The Defense of Marriage Act continues to have a real impact on the lives of real people – our families, friends, and neighbors,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said Tuesday. “He is proud to support the Respect for Marriage Act.”

The president’s continuously evolving views on the issue have been praised by same-sex advocates such as Joe Solmonese, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, and Rick Jacobs, the chairman of the Courage Campaign.

“We thank the president for his support of the Respect of Marriage Act,” Solmonese said. “By supporting this legislation, the president continues to demonstrate his commitment to ending federal discrimination against tens of thousands of lawfully unmarried same-sex couples.”

Others from groups that oppose gay marriage, including Daniel Blomberg of the Alliance Defense Fund and Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for Marriage, have denounced Obama’s decision to back Feinstein’s bill.

“Our perspective is that it’s not only incorrect, but deeply disappointing, to have a politician claim support for marriage between one man and one woman on the campaign trail, then actively undermine that once in office,” Blomberg said. “We are confident Congress will make the right decision here.”

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