WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Friday that he does not think California’s Proposition 8 is constitutional, reflecting the view of his Justice Department, which submitted a legal brief to an upcoming Supreme Court challenge to the law on Thursday.

“As everybody here knows, last year upon a long period of reflection, I concluded that we cannot discriminate against same-sex couples when it comes to marriage,” Obama said at a Friday press conference at the White House. 

“The basic principle that America is founded on — the idea that we’re all created equal — applies to everybody, regardless of sexual orientation, as well as race or gender or religion or ethnicity.”

Obama came out in favor of gay marriage last May, after previously saying his views were “evolving” on the issue. In his second inaugural address last month, he gave a forceful defense of the rights of gay and lesbian couples. 

“Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law — for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well,” he said.

On Friday, Obama echoed those words. “The basic principle is: let’s treat everybody fairly. Let’s treat everybody equal,” he said. “And I think that the brief that’s been presented accurately reflects our position.”


Article taken from huffingtonpost.com