What Melody Barnes Said About Gay Marriage

The Advocate:

Remarks made Monday by senior Obama official Melody Barnes to students at Boston College School of Law caused a stir when some attendees said she expressed her support for same-sex marriage during a question and answer session.

The Huffington Post reported that if the accounts were accurate, "Barnes becomes perhaps the highest-ranking White House official to signal support for same-sex marriage."

Read the whole story: The Advocate

Comments

[wilray]

I will try to put this as simply as possible. Anyone who wants to get a same sex marriage today can get one in any state in the union. MCC and perhaps your local Unitarian Church will be glad to give you one. Because of separation of church and state that can't denied. But what most people really are talking about is civil marriage which is also called civil unions. To be able to plan your life with your partner, to get all the hundreds of other benefits that are recognized by the state, something that the church can't give. That is what Obama wants you to have ... and you have a problem with that.

[Pie7]

Can someone explain to me, what is the propose of this article and what does it have to do with the president position on the matter?

[brady61995]

its in conflict of the presidents position and we are so used to everyone falling in line like robots behind thier president that they think its news when someone has a conflicting opinion. so with this president and miss barnes its not a story at all.

[goodog]

The transcript obviously doesn't clearly say, "I support same-sex marriage and the president does not."

Her statement is vague and circuitous, at best, as if she's trying to avoid the clear statement.

So I would stop short of it being her ringing endorsement one way or the other.

She obviously doesn't begrudge same-sex relationships, like the raptureCons do, and neither does Obama.

Neither does Obama oppose same-sex marriage, believing as he does that DOMA should be rescinded, so that states which offer same-sex marriage can be recognized by the federal government.

Whether Obama personally believes marriage is between a man and a woman or not, he doesn't appear to be bent on preventing same-sex marriage..­. that is to say that he obviously doesn't oppose it based on his personal belief.

That's what the separation of church and state is about... along with equal protection before the law. Your personal sectarian biases should not thwart equal treatment.

Obama's publically practicing that, whatever his actual feelings are.

[Laws456]

Why is this such a difficult subject for the administration to handle? The President himself should be more bullish on this subject, considering that he is a minority and shouldn't forget the plight of those before him who struggled and died just for his right to simply run for President. This isn't a time for political games, some things should be just cut and dry. The President is extremely popular and would be able to change the policies with a speech. I believe he intends on doing this once the health care bill is signed, but it's sad to see that political gains take precedent over ending discrimination. And what's even worse in my eyes, is to see the organized religions fighting to deny people something simple as marriage. Since when did the Catholic Church become THE authority on marriage? They should be worried about their priests and their penchant for touching and raping little boys versus trying to stop Gay people from getting married. This is another reason why more and more people are turning away from organized religion, people are realizing that they don't unite anything or anyone. Come on Barack, do what's right!

[Liberal Angel]

Amen!

[ChironexFleckeri]

I support gay marriage, and I'm straight as an arrow. It's gonna happen.

[Liberal Angel]

Thanks for your support.

[wilray]

Thanks. My best friend (Okay so people don't get confused, I have more than one best friend) is straight. When I met him, he wasn't decided about the whole gay thing because I was the first gay person he met. He also came from Moldova, a small former Soviet satellite. The president has said some very anti-gay things and until they can become more tolerant in their laws, they will definitely not be admitted to the European Union - something that could help their poor country. The small pride parades that have been organized have been met with violence.

When I met my friend five years ago, he attended a church that is definitely not progressive on the gay issue. If you told me that 5 years later we would be best friends, I would have said, "You Lie." He never became a member of the church, and he is about the most progressive straight person on gay issues. The fact that I am Black, Gay, and old enough to be his dad is simply not an issue with him. He got married earlier this Spring, and he plans on having a big family wedding late summer next year. He seriously wants me to come to Moldova to be his best man. I like to think that I helped give him an attitude of tolerance.

[brady61995]

i support gay marrige as well and a womans right to chose. who am i as a straight white male to tell anyone what to do with their bodies or who they can marry.

[Gretel1or2]

Both Obama and Biden have stated in public that they do not support gay marriage, but they support same sex civil unions which should confer the same federal benefits as gay marriage. Currently the law does not confer such benefits, and Obama had stated his committment so getting the law changed. However, it is congress that has to change the law - they have the green light from the president- they have had it since he was inaugurated. It's their duty to get the votes and have a bill on the president's desk.

[scarletxoxoxo]

good for her.

[Kiabell04]

Why anyone would be mad at her for supporting equality is BEYOND me.

[SMP]

I have been married for over 30 yrs...was married by the justice of the peace...ci­vil union...
was the catholic church on my case..yes.­..but commitment to my husband was more important to me than some church blessing..­.just saying

I think the gay community should compromise and settle for civil unions with all the rights of married in a church. The compromise would be a hell of alot better than they have it now.

[Realitylost]

That might be easiest, but they shouldn't have to settle for anything less than the rest of us have.

[rubygreen]

We should make civil unions the law of marraige and then if you want the religious blessing go to church, temple, etc.

[Liberal Angel]

We shouldn't settle for anything less than full and total equality. We won't compromise on our civil rights and full citizenship just for the sake of homophobic fools.

[SharonaMonk]

I don't think they should "settle" for it. But, getting all the same benefits as married couples, in civil unions, is a step forward. I believe that that is currently being worked on.

[Laws456]

Why should they settle?? Shuld black people have settled at the Three-Fifths Compromise? There are issues like health care where concessions can be made and you can make improvements later. They should keep applying pressure until they get equal rights like the rest of us.

[noudidnt]

The President does not support gay marriage, however, he supports civil unions. He has said that numerous times. F00ls can't seem to get that.

[Liberal Angel]

He supported full mariage equality before running for office in DC. It's called lip service.

[Rosewood1923]

"He supported full mariage equality before running for office in DC."

You sound like a broken record.

[Pema]

co-signed!

[kayg]

this is such a non-story. *of course* there are senior administration members who might take a different position and support gay marriage. in fact i suspect quite a few of them.

[wilray]

Because so many people misunderstand President Obama's position, it would be good PR for him to attend a Gay wedding.

[kayg]

he doesn't support it gay marriage. why would he go to a wedding? that would strike me as a little condescending. i am an obama supporter but he clearly is not going to move so much on this issue right now.

[wilray]

Some of the countries that have gay marriage call them civil unions. I mean they have all the rights and responsibilities and privileges as heterosexuals. Other countries have civil unions and they mean something less than what heterosexuals get. If you have ever actually listened to Obama speak to the issue you understand that he is like the former. He plainly states that. Any law changing the status has to come from congress. As soon as they pass a marriage bill I have no doubt that Obama will sign it into law. However marriage has never been a federal issue. That is why DOMA was a tragedy. Many people consider marriage a sacred religious institution. So only the church can give a marriage. I am gay. My best friend and his partner had a legally recognized marriage in Canada. I stood in their wedding at the Unitarian Church in Bremerton, and I am exactly of the same opinion as Obama. The right wing uses this as a wedge issue saying that their reactionary churches will be forced to marry same sex couples. To hang on the word while denying ourselves all the benefits, including federal tax benefits, makes no sense to me. It's okay for them to say that marriages are made in heaven. All I need is a JP. It doesn't matter cause when they end we both are headed to divorce court.

[Rosewood1923]

No, I don't think he should.

[Liberal Angel]

Doesn't matter what you think.

[MarieNat]

Good for her.

[brady61995]

shes can say whatever she wants shes an american. because she serves the president she can still voice her opinion. she not serving bush,he would have her resignation

[goodog]

true, there was zero transparency in the Bush administration. No one spoke his or her mind, even when subpoenaed.

[ladylove114]

You're an American and you can say what you want as long as you are not a beauty pageant contestant.

[Realitylost]

Free speech wont save you from losing a popularity contest for saying something stupid.

[Pucifer]

Yes, here in American we have the right to call homophobes what they are: bigots.

How's that wearing sheets and burning crosses thing working for you?

[madcat007]

Prejean can say whatever she wants. Nobody's saying she can't. It certainly is her right. However, it's not a one way street. You can't say something that's going to offend people and not expect people to come after you. They enjoy the same rights she does.

[brady61995]

she also had the right to make a video and who she sent it to had the right to sell it. lots of rights here. people also have the right not to agree with her phobic veiws.

[Jaskoen]

GOOD.