African american Quote by Barack Obama
“I am a fierce supporter of domestic-partnership and civil-union laws. I am not a supporter of gay marriage as it has been thrown about, primarily just as a strategic issue. I think that marriage, in the minds of a lot of voters, has a religious connotation. I know that's true in the African-American community, for example. And if you asked people, 'should gay and lesbian people have the same rights to transfer property, and visit hospitals, and et cetera,' they would say, 'absolutely.' And then if you talk about, 'should they get married?', then suddenly...”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Marriage Equality, United States, 2012
The speaker supports civil unions and domestic partnerships for equal rights but opposes redefining marriage due to its religious significance for many voters.
In simple terms: Supports legal rights but not marriage redefinition.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for equal legal protections without altering marriage definition.
Themes
civil rights
political strategy
religion
LGBTQ rights
Mood
thoughtful
balanced
Type
political
policy.
When to use this quote
- policy advocacy
- community outreach
- legislative debate
Key Concepts
legal equality
public opinion
cultural sensitivity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can society balance religious views with civil rights?
- What alternative legal structures could ensure full equality?
A Different Perspective
May limit full equality by maintaining separate institutions.
![“A lot of people [are] saying civil union," Faried told KDVR. "I don't like it being called that because I can get married to a female and it can be called a marriage. Why can't a female be married to a female and male be married to a male and it be called a marriage? You still have the same thing…” quote by Kenneth Faried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ccf/kenneth-faried-106860_because-i-can_a-lot-of-people-are-saying-civil-union-f_31787.jpg)
![“That is another theme in the book [Dreams from My Father]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we get the black to see through the eyes of the white? Or the citizen to see through the eyes of the immigrant? Or the straight to see through the eyes of the gay? That has…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00d/barack-obama-17_black_that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams_10185.jpg)
![“It's good to get fresh legs in [the White house]. I think that it refreshes our democracy.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/732/barack-obama-17_democracy_it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white_17233.jpg)
