President Obama Wades Into Washington State Marriage Debate

[Tx4obama]

SEATTLE, Wash. — One day after publicly coming out in favor of same-sex marriages, President Obama waded into Washington State’s debate over the unions, telling supporters at a Seattle fundraiser to vote against an expected November referendum that would overturn a new same-sex marriage law.

“Here in Washington you’ll have the chance to make your voice heard on the issue of making sure that everybody, regardless of sexual orientation, is treated fairly. You will have a chance to weigh in on this,” Obama said inside Seattle’s Paramount Theater. “We are a nation that treats people fairly. We’re not going backwards, we’re not going backwards, we’re going forwards.”

The comments were Obama’s first on marriage since his interview with ABC News on Wednesday, when he announced a reversal of his longstanding opposition to same-sex nuptials. He said “winds of change” sweeping the country, as well as conversations with his staff, openly gay and lesbian service members, and his wife and daughters, helped change his view.

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http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/obama-wades-into-washington-state-marriage-debate/