Oprah: Gay Couples May Strengthen the Institution of Marriage

With France becoming the 14^th country to legalize same-sex marriage, Oprah Winfrey sat down with three thought leaders -- Reverend Ed Bacon and authors Mark Nepo and Elizabeth Lesser -- to discuss the subject of marriage equality in the United States for an episode of the OWN network series Super Soul Sunday.

In the clip below from the show, Bacon, who has officiated both gay and straight weddings in the past, asserted that same-sex marriages would not destroy the institution of marriage, as some conservatives claim, but would instead enrich it. "I've never had a straight couple come to me and say, 'My marriage is in trouble because of a gay couple living next door,'" Bacon said. "To the contrary, I've had people come to me and say, 'Because of the love between Bob and Joe, I have learned how better to love my wife or my husband.'"

Lesser agreed, adding she felt same-sex marriage posed no threat to the institution of marriage and it was "in trouble long before gays were getting married."

"Maybe gay people can help it," Oprah proposed.

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