President Obama touted his support for
gay marriage during a West Coast fundraising spree on Thursday capped
off at the home of Hollywood actor George Clooney.
At a campaign stop in Seattle, Obama
used his just-announced support to call on Washington voters to
reject Referendum 74, the ballot measure which would repeal the
state's gay marriage law.
“We're not returning to the days when
you could be kicked out of the United States military just because of
who you are and who you love. We're moving this country forward.”
After a deliberate pause, he continued:
“We are moving forward to a country where every American is treated
with dignity and with respect. And here in Washington you'll have
the chance to make your voice heard on the issue of making sure that
everybody, regardless of sexual orientation, is treated fairly. You
will have a chance to weigh in on this.”
“We are a nation that treats people
fairly,” he added to loud applause.
Among those attending the Clooney
fundraiser were Barbra Streisand, Salma Hayek, Tobey Maguire and Jack
Black. The event raised nearly $15 million.