President Obama, who personally supports same-sex marriage, received updates at the White House Tuesday about the oral arguments taking place Tuesday morning at the Supreme Court over California’s law that bans the unions.
Senior adviser Valerie Jarrett and White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler were among the White House officials who attended the oral arguments over Proposition 8. White House press secretary Jay Carney said public officials who are expressing support for same-sex marriage, and polls reflecting more public support for it, are a “welcome phenomenon.”
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“The president has noted … the transformation that’s been taking place in American society on these issues,” Mr. Carney said. “It is a recognition by an increasing number of Americans that gay and lesbian Americans ought not to be discriminated against. And it reflects his core beliefs on these issues.”
U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, representing the Obama administration Justice Department, took part in the oral arguments, saying in part that states with same-sex “civil unions” should also be required to accept full recognition of gay marriage as well.
