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President Obama, gay marriage & New York: Maddow examines ‘awkward’ fundraiser [video]

By on June 24, 2011

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow took a look tonight at President Barack Obama‘s trip to New York today to raise funds for his presidential campaign. He appeared at a dinner with LGBT rights advocates during a week when the legalization of gay marriage may become reality or may find itself defeated by that state’s Senate for the second time in two years.

As Maddow pointed out, it was an “awkward dinner date” because the President does not support “marriage” for gays, but prefers “civil unions.” Many gay people are frustrated by Obama’s stance, and this seemingly contradictory quote from his speech is making the rounds today:

 “I believe that gay couples deserve the same legal rights as every other couple in this country.”

Maddow also spoke with Jason West, the Mayor of New Paltz, NY, who blew past state and Federal opposition to same-sex marriages in 2004 by joining 25 couples together. He says that despite a failed lawsuit by the late Jerry Falwell, the legality of those marriages has never been ruled on.  

Read more of Obama’s remarks from Metro Weekly’s Chris Geidner who attended Thursday’s event.

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