01/13/2009
Chicago Paper Reveals Obama's Early Support for Same-Sex Marriage
After research in its archives, the Windy City Times uncovered copies of Outlines newspaper and an IMPACT survey which were published in 1996 and summarized in various news articles during the final weeks of the 2008 presidential campaign. The articles, which contain quotes related to Obama's position on same-sex marriage, have been revealed in a Windy City Times article:
"During his run for Illinois state Senate in 1996, Barack Obama stated his unequivocal support for gay marriage, according to an exclusive story in the Jan. 14, 2009 Windy City Times newspaper. President-elect Obama's answer to a 1996 Outlines newspaper question on marriage was: 'I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages.' There was no use of the phrase 'civil unions'. [Outlines purchased Windy City Times in 2000 and merged companies.] This answer is among those included in this week's Windy City Times feature on Obama's evolving position on gay marriage. Windy City Times also includes his answers to the candidate questionnaire of IMPACT, at one time a gay political action committee in Illinois. In that survey he also stated his support of same-sex marriage."
Obama now says, and said during his campaign for president, that he supports civil unions for gays and lesbians but believes marriage is between a man and a woman. He also believes in letting states decide whether or not same-sex marriage should be legalized.
Download a PDF of the issue here.
Obama changed views on gay marriage [windy city times]
Posted 5:23 PM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Chicago, Gay Marriage, News | Permalink
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Who is to say which one is the political gimmick and which one is the honest thought, or if either are? I love the O-man, but part of what I love about him is how damn wonderfully political he is. It can be shitty, too. Maybe this means he's willing to screw us to hold office, and many feel this Rick Warren thing confirms that. I don't yet. What I hope is that he was just willing to fake out the crazies of the right to get office, and then he can bring all sorts of colors and progressive social agendas to that White house.
Posted by: bb | Jan 13, 2009 10:54:39 PM
Obama backtracked because he's not as brave as we'd like to think he is and he figured that same-sex marriage was too hot an issue. Disappointing, but not particularly surprising. Now we'll see whether as president he gets any tougher and comes down on the side of truth, justice, and equality (which you'd think would be defensible ideas).
Frankly, the civil government should simply get out of the "marriage" business and just issue everyone partnership licenses or civil union certificates (I don't much care what they call them) and folks who want "marriage" can go to their friendly local church/synagogue/mosque/ashram/etc. for the holy rite or whatever. And I don't think it much matters who marries whom or how many are part of the partnership. Not my business. Just make it the same for all consenting adults.
Posted by: Zeno | Jan 14, 2009 12:17:35 AM
No wonder the gay community in America is in terminal decline. You keep voting for candidates who are simply using you to get your vote. This is what Obama has done in my view.
You've also become so politicized, you fail to address issues on the basis of their merits and, instead, seek to justify why "your man" back-tracked. Well, I'd rather address issues on their merits and, in my opinion, Obama has failed.
Perhaps the greatest pointer to gay decline is the fact that, during the protests against Prop 8 recently, there were more gay men in bars than in the streets. You're more interested in picking up than in protesting.
Posted by: jason | Jan 14, 2009 4:25:00 AM
Obama had no choice but to say he did not support gay marriages for the election. Do people not remember what happened to John Kerry in the 2004 election? The republicans galvanized on the gay marriage issue and it basically cost Kerry and the Democrats the election. Would you rather see McCain in office right now? Because that is what would have happened if Obama stated support of gay marriage.
Posted by: FB | Jan 14, 2009 10:22:17 AM
Jason, thank you for your godlike declarations from the nuthouse in the Outback. We're taking notes.
Presidents don't get to be president without taking positions based on political realities. Doesn't necessarily make it right, but it's reality and not a bit surprising. If anything, this should be reassuring--we have a president who has believed for years that we deserve equality. We don't have a president (McCain) who thinks we don't. But the proof will come with his actions. That's what matters.
Once again, RB, your I-told-you-so frothing at the mouth is empty since Obama has NOT YET TAKEN OFFICE. We know you didn't vote for him and are drinking the Fox Koolaid instead of the Dem Koolaid, but until he's actually in office your insights into his soul mean zilch. The only people who talk about him being our Saviour/Messiah are the people who didn't vote for him--the election is over, he's your president, get a grip.
Posted by: Ernie | Jan 14, 2009 10:59:40 AM
RB, black voters and young and/or newly registered voters had a lot more to do with Obama winning than LGBT voters.
Posted by: Paul R | Jan 14, 2009 1:32:41 PM
RB, Jesus would you just die already?!? Worthless sack of shit.
Posted by: Die, RB! | Jan 14, 2009 1:47:55 PM
Based on past performance I have to agree with Jason. Ask anyone in public housing in Obama's old state senate district. Obama gave all the public housing money to his real estate fairy Tony Rezko. 100's of families faced Chicago winters without heat or water. Obama did nothing to help them even though he created the situation. None of this is a big surprise.
Posted by: Mike K | Jan 18, 2009 2:07:24 PM
Based on past performance I have to agree with Jason. Ask anyone in public housing in Obama's old state senate district. Obama gave all the public housing money to his real estate fairy Tony Rezko. 100's of families faced Chicago winters without heat or water. Obama did nothing to help them even though he created the situation. None of this is a big surprise.
Posted by: Mike K | Jan 18, 2009 2:08:08 PM
Politics...politics...politics...
Until California or any other state, for that matter, legalizes 'the' Gay Marriage, will the politicians seriously consider the LGBT community in policy-making.
The so-called victory of Prop 8 just highlights the fact that we are a minority who cannot convince the majority that we have needs and rights just like anybody else. What makes it worse is that in very rough economic times, it showed that the LGBT community has no financial strength to organize and push the envelope. And just like any corporation, the Government will always take the side of who's got more to offer.
For now, we will just have to wait for a president who can sincerely say that he/she supports Gay Marriage and will NEVER ever change his/her stand on the issue regardless of the circumstance.
Whether that will be a 2nd-term Obama or not remains to be seen.
Life for us has to go on. Let us continue to educate the people outside the community and help our local LGBT org's in any way possible. Soon, REAL CHANGE will come upon. And this my brothers and sisters, is the real essence of HOPE.
Salamat!
Posted by: alexa | Jan 19, 2009 12:07:39 PM