Today In 2012, Obama Becomes First U.S, President to Support Same-Sex Marriage

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Today, May 9, in 2012, Barack Obama became the first sitting U.S. President to publicly declare support for the legalization of same-sex marriage in an interview with Robin Roberts, the out anchor of ABC'a Good Morning America.

Same-sex marriage in the United States was established on a state-by-state basis, expanding from 1 state in 2004 to 36 states in 2015, when, on June 26, 2015, same-sex marriage was established in all 50 states as a result of the ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States in the landmark civil rights case of Obergefell v. Hodges, in which it was held that the right of same-sex couples to marry on the same terms and conditions as opposite-sex couples, with all the accompanying rights and responsibilities, is guaranteed by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

From 2004 to 2015, as the tide of public opinion continued to move forward toward support of same-sex marriage, various state court rulings, state legislation, popular referendums, and federal court rulings established same-sex marriage in 36 states. In 2011, national public support for same-sex marriage rose above 50 percent for the first time. 

Obama had stated in his first presidential run that he was against the legalization of same-sex marriage, but supported civil unions and stated that his position was "evolving."  Just days previous to Obama's interview with Roberts, Vice President Joe Biden announced his support of same-sex marriage.