Speaking to a national audience Tuesday night, President Barack Obama described same-sex couples’ right to marry as a “civil right” during his annual State of the Union address.
“I’ve seen something like gay marriage go from a wedge issue used to drive us apart to a story of freedom across our country, a civil right now legal in states that seven in ten Americans call home,” Obama said to a standing ovation from the Democratic side of the chamber.
Obama’s declaration that marriage equality is a civil right, and presumably one that same-sex couples nationwide are guaranteed, marks one of Obama’s most forceful statements on the issue to date and comes at a time when same-sex marriage is once again the focus of national attention.
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a consolidated case challenging same-sex marriage bans in four states — Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee — and address whether the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits states from banning same-sex marriage or recognition of same-sex marriages legally performed elsewhere. Obama’s affirmation that marriage equality is a civil right was made as five — or perhaps even six — of the Supreme Court justices most likely to rule in favor of same-sex marriage sat mere feet away.
Sitting in the front row were Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. The court’s more conservative members — Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas — did not attend the speech. Kennedy is the author of three of the Supreme Court’s most important gay rights opinions, the latest being the 2013 Windsor decision, which struck down the federal government’s definition of marriage as between a man and a woman. Although considered a member of the court’s conservative wing, some have speculated whether Roberts could be convinced to rule in favor of marriage equality.
“What was striking to me was to stand up to applaud his comments,” said out Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.). “I swelled up with pride when he mentioned marriage equality and the momentum it had across the country, but looked at the Republican side of the chamber and the stoney, arms-crossed attitude was — I can’t say I was surprised. Let me just say I was disappointed that they’re clinging to this as a wedge issue.”
Sen. Rob Portman (Ohio), one of four Senate Republicans to openly support marriage equality, told reporters he agreed with Obama’s remarks on the issue. Portman has said he believes same-sex marriage should be left up to the states, and when asked if he supports same-sex marriage litigation before the Supreme Court, responded, “I support the democratic process working, and I think it is working.”
Obama’s declaration that marriage equality is a civil right comes after his outgoing attorney general, Eric Holder, reaffirmed last week that the Justice Department would file a brief urging the Supreme Court “to make marriage equality a reality for all Americans.” The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in April with a decision handed down in June. More than 70 percent of Americans live in one of the 36 states, plus D.C., that permit same-sex marriage.
Obama also made history as the first president to spell out bisexual and transgender in LGBT during a State of the Union address. “As Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we’re threatened,” Obama said. “That’s why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. We do these things not only because they’re right, but because they make us safer.”
The president articulated a vision in which future generations know that “we are a people who see our differences as a great gift, that we are a people who value dignity and worth of every citizen,” including those who are gay.
On and off of Capitol Hill, LGBT advocates were enthusiastic in their praise of Obama’s speech, which comes as two years remain in his presidency.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oreg.), who has vowed to introduce a comprehensive LGBT civil rights bill this Congress, praised Obama’s remarks. “I’m very pleased that he brought the discussion about equality and opportunity right into the heart of the American living room tonight to say that this is the right thing for our nation, it’s the right thing for individuals and for our vision of fairness,” Merkley told Metro Weekly. Merkley said he hopes the comprehensive LGBT nondiscrimination bill will be introduced by April or May.
Although Mara Keisling, executive director of Transgender Equality, said the Obama administration’s advancement of policies that have improved the lives of transgender people in years without a mention in the State of the Union are far more important, Obama’s remarks are heartening. “But make no mistake, the President of the United States condemning persecution against transgender people is pivotal. It will empower trans people to stand taller and work harder to improve this country for all people,” Keisling said in a statement.
“The president acknowledges marriage as a civil right to a standing ovation from members of Congress,” Fred Sainz, vice president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in an email. “And for the first time in a State of the Union speech, he refers to our bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters. It should not go unnoticed that he also lends his voice to supporting LGBT people across the world struggling against tyranny and oppression.”
Added Sainz, “It’s amazing to believe that eleven years ago this very night, President George W. Bush launched his war on marriage equality. We’ve come a long way baby.”
Organizers of the annual Tucson Pride festival have dissolved the organization’s board and canceled the upcoming 2026 Pride festival and all related events.
As reported by the Arizona Daily Star, the two-member board -- Sam Cloud and Jeff Fulgham -- announced the decision in a note posted to the Tucson Pride website and its social media accounts on January 21, exactly one month before the festival was scheduled to take place.
"This decision was not made lightly," the note reads. "We recognize the deep importance Tucson Pride has held in our community since 1977, serving as a space of visibility, advocacy, celebration, and resilience for nearly five decades. We are profoundly grateful to every volunteer, sponsor, artist, activist, and community member who has supported Tucson Pride throughout its history."
Documentaries generally don't need an onscreen host. The camera can play host, and real-life stories can tell themselves, with offscreen prompting from research and production, and shrewd direction and editing providing context.
If a filmmaker wants to put the prompting onscreen, there's a delicate art to inserting themselves or an on-camera host into the story without stealing the spotlight from their subject.
Ryan Ashley Lowery, director and creator of the LGBTQ doc Light Up, is anything but delicate in inserting himself and two on-camera host-interviewers -- Michael Mixx and Maurice Eckstein -- into the film's still-compelling portrait of Atlanta's "community of Black same gender loving men and trans women."
Federal lawmakers have passed the annual National Defense Authorization Act, a sweeping defense policy bill that includes a new federal ban on transgender women competing on female-designated sports teams at U.S. military service academies.
The ban on transgender athletes was folded into the 3,086-page bill, which authorizes approximately $900 billion in military and national security spending for 2026, according to Mother Jones. The House of Representatives passed the measure by a 312-112 vote, with 94 Democrats and 18 Republicans opposed. The Senate followed with a 75-22 vote, and the bill now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature.
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