NY1.com

  74º

You are not signed in  |  Sign in here  |  Help

You're viewing a lite version of NY1.com

Time Warner Cable customers: Sign in with your TWC ID for video access.

Get my TWC ID. | Get TWC service. | Read the FAQ.

05/09/2012 11:49 PM

NYers Have Wide Range Of Reaction To Obama's New Stance On Gay Marriage

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

Reaction to President Barack Obama's support for same-sex marriage was mixed all across the city Wednesday as New Yorkers weighed in on the commander-in-chiefs new stance. NY1's Michael Herzenberg filed the following report.

It seemed like a typical night in the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, but the mood was anything but typical.

"I completely love that he came out and finally said that he supports gay marriage," said one New Yorker.

"I think it's absolutely wonderful," said another New Yorker.

"I'm glad he did come out for gay marriage since I myself am getting married," said a third New Yorker.

But the scene at what's considered the birthplace of the gay civil rights movement is a far cry from 11 months ago when New York became the sixth state to legalize same sex marriage.

"This is the civil rights movement of our generation," noted one New Yorker.

President Obama's support of gay marriage sparked opinions across the city on both sides of the debate.

"In terms of the Conservative party and most of the religious community, I think it's a big slap in the face," said one New Yorker.

"I believe the strongest thing in life is man, woman, and child," said another New Yorker.

"What's wrong with it? I mean everybody is walking around here talking about how they hate gays. Why? That's what's wrong with the world today. Not enough love," said a third New Yorker.

One man at the Stonewall Inn also noted he didn't think the president went far enough, and that leaving the decision of same-sex marriage up to the states leaves gay couples without equal rights under federal law.