NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama sought the support of voters in the homosexual community Feb. 28, telling them in a letter that if elected president he would work to pass laws important to that constituency and would use the “bully pulpit” of the presidency to urge states to grant same-sex couples the legal benefits of marriage.
The 770-word letter was posted on a section of Obama's campaign website devoted to homosexual issues.
In the letter, Obama touted his past record on such issues and said he would continue that record if elected. He used the acronym LGBT — which stands for “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender” — six times.
“As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws,” he wrote. “I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment. But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples.”