Obama Supports Gay Marriage – Let’s Help Him Win Reelection This November

            Barack Obama, on May 9^th, 2012, became the first United States president to openly support gay marriage.  Now, in the wake of this historic moment, it is time for each of us to do our part to ensure that this man is reelected to office.  We all know that the far-Right will do everything within their power to use this brave admission against Obama.  Now, more than ever, we must do all we can to show support for our president, and to fight the propaganda machine of hate.

            In the words of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand,“The president's unequivocal support today in favor of all committed couples to marry the person they love is a watershed moment in American history that will provide the leadership needed to finally repeal DOMA and win the unfinished fight for equality for all Americans.”

Yet, even now, despite this momentous event, Conservatives are launching the first attacks against Obama based on his support of gay marriage.

"God is the author of marriage, and we will not let an activist politician like Barack Obama who is beholden to gay marriage activists for campaign financing to turn marriage into something political that can be redefined according to presidential whim," said Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage.

And, from Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association, "President Obama stuck a fork in himself today. He's done. He's toast,"

            We can expect to see many more such hateful criticisms as the year continues on.  Election campaigns, Conservative organizations, Right-wing religious groups, super PACs, and Republican party activists can all be expected to launch, fund, and publicize a vast wave of attacks against Obama.

            Unless we all do something to fight against these efforts to hurt the president, their goals of destabilizing him could come to fruition.  If Obama looses to Mitt Romney in November, we will have taken a step back away from marriage equality, and we will have lost a great catalyst for change.

            Just hours after Obama formally came out in support of same sex marriage, Romney, again, reiterated his opposition to it.

"I have the same view on marriage that I had when I was governor” Romney said, speaking at a campaign event.  “I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman.  I have the same view I've had since, well, running for office."

Romney has also publically voiced support for a Constitutional amendment that would ban same sex marriage.  Were this change to be made, it would be the first time that our Constitution was amended to strip some Americans of equal rights.  To me, that idea is scary.  Is Romney really the kind of president that we want after November?  Are we prepared to let our nation take such a step back?

In the last two decades, a revolution has been occurring as more and more Americans wake up and realize that all people deserve equal rights.  Just a couple of years ago, most Americans were against gay marriage.  Yet, we’ve begun to see the tide turn as, in the last year, a small and growing majority of Americans voice their support for marriage equality.

In order to keep this trend going, we must work to sustain its momentum.  The more people who come out in support of same sex marriage, the easier it will be for others to see why we need equal rights for all citizens.  When people like Obama and Joe Biden come out and stand behind such issues, it adds a tremendous boost to the efforts of those working for gay rights.

Right now, you and I, as well as many, many other Americans can proudly say that our highest elected official, our president, supports equal rights.  We can each say “Yes, that is my president, and I stand behind him.”

Would you really want to see someone like Mitt Romney in office instead of Obama?  Could you proudly say “That is my president”, knowing where he stands on these most important issues?

If we don’t want intolerance living in the White House, then we must each do our part to counteract the GOP hate machine, and to ensure that Obama remains president.  This election is too important for us not to get involved.

There are many ways that you can help.  The best thing that you can do is to keep the conversation going.  Talk to your friends and your relatives.  Tell them why you support Obama.  Let them know that someone they love and respect stands behind our president.  No number of campaign speeches or political ads can ever replace such powerful actions.

Additionally, you can also volunteer, donate money, or simply get out there and encourage people to vote.  It is shocking to see how few people cast a ballot during each election.  Merely convincing more people to exercise their Democratic right could mean the difference between a win and a loss.

Please spread this message as far and wide as you can.  Together, through the power of free speech and Democracy, we can make a difference.  The first step is to help spread the word.  Are you up to the challenge?