Boston– May 9, 2012 – Boston Pride is congratulating President Barack Obama for affirming his support for marriage equality.  The President told Robin Roberts of ABC News today, “I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, 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 same sex couples should be able to get married.”

As members of a community who every day face discrimination in this country and around the world, we appreciate President Obama’s willingness to take this courageous stand.  Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same sex marriage, and since then, we’ve only seen support for marriage equality grow.  Yet even while it has grown, there are those who would continue to deny us the basic right to love, marriage, and family.  As such, we thank President Obama for his public statements in support of marriage equality and we look forward to the day that all Americans have the right to marry their partner, regardless of gender or orientation.