The two candidates running for the 2012 elections have very different views when it comes to the acceptance of gay marriage within the United States. Just a few months ago President Obama declared that he supported gay marriage, whereas his competitor, Mitt Romney, believes marriage should only be between a man and a woman.
Many Americans all over the US and even students who attend Bloomsburg University can already cast their vote by hearing each candidates opinions on same-sex marriage.
Junior BU student, Kelsey Granteed, said she will be voting for Obama come November due to his support for same-sex marriage. “The fact that I’m not the slightest bit interested in politics but am a firm believer and supporter of same-sex marriage, Obama’s announcement made me have more respect for him and made me reconsider voting this year.”
According to an article in the Washington Post, Obama stated that when he visits college campuses and talk to Republican students that they disagree with a majority of his policies except when it comes to same-sex marriage or sexual orientation. “…but are very clear when it comes to same-sex equality or, you know, sexual orientation, that they believe in equality,” said Obama when talking about the Republican students on campus.
“Some would say it hinders the term marriage but in reality it hinders the word America, which is supposed to be the land of the free. By telling two people who live in America they can’t get married because they are attracted to the same sex is basically taking a piece of their freedom away,” said Susanne Garvin, junior at Bloomsburg University.
With the mentality of this modern generation, many people can agree and support Obama’s statement. According to The Huffington Post, a year ago Obama said his views on gay marriage were “evolving.” Now a year later, after being influenced by friends, family and children of gay couples, he is all for same-sex marriage.
A recent article on The Huffington Post claims that numerous polls suggest a slight majority of Americans favor giving same-sex couples the right to marry.
“I think that we should be allowed to marry whoever we want whether you’re into guys or girls, it doesn’t matter. Love is love and no one should stand in the way and tell you that you can’t walk down the aisle because of your sexual preference,” says Rachel Lombardo, junior BU student
An article in The New York Times quotes Obama as he said, “Ever since I had a memory about what my mother taught me, and my grandparents taught me, I believed that discriminating against people was wrong.”
Not only will Obama be bringing in the votes from his same-sex statement, but his campaign fundraising is growing rapidly. According an article on American Thinker, one of Obama’s top fundraisers known as bundlers received 1 million dollars within the first 90 minutes.
Obama’s same-sex statement is making moves happen around the states and hopefully it will progress to something more as time comes. Many voters this year see his statement as political courage. There’s still going to be the people who disagree with his statement, but when it comes down to it, they weren’t supporting or voting for him anyway. His statement has opened the eyes to many citizens and is now giving them hope for a plea people have been begging over for years.
