Mayor Sanders Backs Obama's Support of Gay Marriage

Mayor Jerry Sanders has come out in support of President Barack Obama after the nation's leader announced, in an interview with ABC News on Wednesday, that he believes same-sex couples should be able to get married.

“President Obama made the right decision today and I applaud him for it. As someone whose position has also evolved, I know this is an issue of equality and basic human rights. Two people who love each other should be able to get married.  It’s really as simple as that. History will judge President Obama kindly for his decision today.”

Obama's announcement comes on the heels of Vice President Joe Biden saying on Sunday that he is "comfortable" with same-sex marriage. The vice president's words prompted many to call for Obama to also explicitly express support for homosexual couples. Obama did so during Wednesday's interview, which was shown in part around noon PT on ABC.

His statement, which can be viewed on ABC's website here, said, in part:

"I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together; when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that 'don't ask, don't tell' is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married."

What do you think?