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Gallup first asked the question in nineteen ninety-six. That year only twenty-seven percent of
people said they supported same-sex marriage.
The presidents position on the issue gained new attention after a TV appearance Sunday by Vice
President Joe Biden. He was on NBCs Meet the Press program.
JOE BIDEN: I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women
marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying one another are entitled to the
same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties.
President Obama announced the change in his thinking on ABC News on Wednesday.
BARACK OBAMA: At a certain point, I 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.
He noted his success at ending the militarys Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy and his opposition
to the Defense of Marriage Act.
But Mr. Obama said he still supports the right of individual states to decide the marriage issue.
He spoke a day after a large majority of voters in North Carolina approved a state constitutional
ban on homosexual marriage. North Carolina became the thirtieth state to pass such an
amendment. The ban also includes civil unions and domestic partnerships.
Currently, six of the fifty states and the District of Columbia allow same-sex couples to marry.
Nine states allow civil unions or provide rights under domestic partnership laws.
And thats IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.
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