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President Obama Supports Same-Sex Marriages

PHILADELPHIA(CBS/AP) -- President Barack Obama says he now supports same-sex marriage, ending months of equivocation on a subject with powerful election-year consequences.

Obama says he has concluded that it is important for him to affirm that he thinks same-sex couples should be able to get married. He says he came to the conclusion over the course of several years of talking to family and friends.

Obama has previously said his personal views of gay marriage were evolving, a stance that frustrated gay rights supporters.

Currently only six U.S. states legally recognize same-sex marriage. This past February, New Jersey attempted to join them and N.J. State Senate and passed a bill legalizing same sex marriages. A few days later on February 17, 2012, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoed the bill.

Obama revealed his support for gay marriage in an interview with ABC News.

Do you support same-sex marriage? Share your thoughts below.

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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