President Barack Obama is calling on
lawmakers in Hawaii to approve a gay marriage bill.
The White House released a statement in
support of Hawaii becoming the 15th state to allow gay
couples to marry. The president was born in Honolulu, the state's
capital.
“While the president does not weigh
in on every measure being considered by state legislatures, he
believes in treating everyone fairly and equally, with dignity and
respect,” Shin Inouye, a White House spokesman, said
in an email to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's
largest LGBT rights advocate. “As he has said, his personal view
is that it's wrong to prevent couples who are in loving, committed
relationships, and want to marry, from doing so. The president would
welcome a decision by the state Legislature to treat all Hawaiian
couples equally.”
The measure cleared the Senate on
Wednesday with overwhelming support. However, the bill faces
greater opposition in the House, where votes are tight. A House
hearing on the marriage bill attracted thousands.
(Related: Thousands
testify at Hawaii House hearing on gay marriage.)