President Obama feels the push to endorse gay marriage

President Barack Obama has scheduled a fundraiser in New York City this for gay supporters, his first such gesture as president, as the N.Y. state Legislature is on the verge of a historic vote legalizing gay marriage. The vote could occur hours before Obama's event.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - While the president has been outspoken on gay rights, he has since failed to endorse gay marriage. The president won support among gay voters with his repealing of the ban on gays serving openly in the military. Obama has also instructed the Justice Department to stop defending in court a federal law defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

However, the president says that he only endorses civil unions - and not marriages for gay and lesbian couples, by stating that his views on the issue are evolving -- as are the country's.

White House officials say there will be no new stance from Obama at the event, where as many as 600 guests were paying up to $35,800 each to attend.

It is highly likely that Obama will have to address the issue before a roomful of supporters described by the Democratic National Committee as "allies of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community." The event will be his first fundraiser geared specifically toward the gay community.

If the resolution passes, New York will become the sixth and largest state to legalize same-sex marriage.

"I do not think that he is going to articulate a new position on Thursday, but I do think that the timing of what we think will be a big win in New York ... does up the pressure on him to do something and might just create enough of a political magic moment to bring about a surprise," Richard Socarides, head of the advocacy group EqualityMatters says.

If Obama were to endorse gay marriage, it would give a jolt of enthusiasm to his progressive base and perhaps unlock additional fundraising dollars from the well-heeled gay community. At the same time, supporting gay marriage could alienate some religious voters the politically cautious White House might still hope to win over for Obama's re-election campaign.

Obama has said decisions on marriage should be left up to the states and has indicated support in the past for states allowing gay people to marry. While running for president, he even went so far as to congratulate gay couples in California who married during the short period when gay marriage was legal in that state before voters shut it down.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'