Support groups

"It's interesting, some of this is also generational. You know when I go to college campuses, sometimes I talk to college Republicans who think that I have terrible policies on the economy, on foreign policy, but are very clear that when it comes to same sex equality or, you know, believe in equality.  They are much more comfortable with it. You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we're talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sasha, it wouldn't dawn on them that somehow their friends' parents would be treated differently. It doesn't make sense to them and frankly, that's the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective."

The President also cited his faith in the announcement and the influence of First Lady Michelle Obama:  "This is something that, you know, we've talked about over the years and she, you know, she feels the same way, she feels the same way that I do. And that is that, in the end the values that I care most deeply about and she cares most deeply about is how we treat other people and, you know, I, you know, we are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it's also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated. And I think that's what we try to impart to our kids and that's what motivates me as president and I figure the most consistent I can be in being true to those precepts, the better I'll be as a as a dad and a husband and hopefully the better I'll be as president."

Obama's Gay Marriage support resulted in a record number of internet searches and a rush of users uploading videos on the subject during the days following the President's announcement. Gay marriage was also the most popular topic on YouTube's news and politics category. YouTube is owned by the online search giant Google, which saw a 458 percent increase in national searches for "Obama" and "gay marriage" between 10 am and 6pm the day Obama disclosed his views in an interview with ABC News. American University communications professor Matthew Nisbit says the virtual surge can be attributed at least in part to the Millennial generation: "The heaviest users of video are people under the age of 25, and gay rights is one of the few political issues young people feel passionate about." Makes sense.