Obama Condemns Proposed N.C. Marriage Ban

President Barack Obama has come out against North Carolina's Amendment 1, which would constitutionally ban marriage for same-sex couples. Voters will decide on the ballot initiative in the key battleground state on May 8.

North Carolina spokesman Cameron French issued a statement to reporters that the president typically does not weigh in on state ballot measures, but "the record is clear that the President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same sex couples," he said according to the News Observer. "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."

Jeremy Kennedy, campaign manager for Protect All NC Families, applauded the president's stance.

"The President's support is proof that Amendment One, which could take health care away from children, put domestic violence laws in jeopardy, in addition to hurting all unmarried couples in North Carolina, has far-reaching, negative consequences," he said in a statement Friday