O'Malley Still Confident About Gay Marriage In Md., Says Obama Support 'Game Changer'
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- President Barack Obama takes a new, bold stand on same-sex marriage. Wednesday afternoon, he announced he now supports the unions.
Adam May has reaction and the latest on the fight for marriage equality in Maryland.
After years of saying his stance on same-sex marriage was evolving, President Obama became the first president in history to come out in favor of marriage equality. He told ABC News, "It is important for me personally to go ahead and affirm that same-sex couples should be able to get married."
The announcement came one day after voters in North Carolina approved a constitutional amendment banning the unions.
"I thought better of North Carolina voters. I thought they were more progressive than the rest of the South," said one man.
Here in Maryland, Governor Martin O'Malley signed a same-sex marriage law in March but those against it tell WJZ they're now close to getting enough signatures to put the issue on the November ballot.
"For those thousands of citizens writing their names on these petitions, we don't plan on losing," said Derek McCoy.
McCoy dismisses a new Gallup poll showing 50 percent of Americans now support same-sex marriage. That includes most Democrats, independents, Catholics and non-religious voters. Most Republicans and Protestants remain opposed.
"Every time the voters have gone, they've voted marriage should be one man, one woman," McCoy said.
"The momentum is definitely here in Maryland," said Ezekiel Jackson, Marriage Equality Coalition.
Jackson says the president's support is a game changer, especially since he's highly popular in Maryland.
"We would be the first state to win it when it goes to the people," Jackson said.
Before the issue ends up on the November ballot, expect another battle. Both sides are arguing over how the question will be worded.
O'Malley is applauding the president's new support, saying most Marylanders agree.
