President Barack Obama criticized a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in North Carolina, according to the Associated Press.

He said he is not in favor of a law that attempts to deny rights to same-sex couples in the state, which he took in the 2008 election and remains vital to his re-election hopes.

"While the president does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the record is clear that the president has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same-sex couples," said Cameron French, the Obama campaign's North Carolina spokesman, in a statement. "That's what the North Carolina ballot initiative would do -- it would single out and discriminate against committed gay and lesbian couples -- and that's why the president does not support it."

The proposed amendment to the constitution would state, in part, "Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state." Same-sex marriage is already illegal in the state by statute.

Obama has never endorsed same-sex marriage, but his stance on the issue continues to "evolve," he says, and gay marriage advocates have applauded him on some of his administration's actions.

North Carolina is the only state in the Southeast without a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

And not everyone in North Carolina is happy about the president's involvement in the issue.

"I believe President Obama has no business inserting himself into the people's business here in North Carolina," said Tami Fitzgerald, chairwoman of Vote FOR Marriage NC.

Read more at the Associated Press.

Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. 

 

Tweet