Melody Barnes, Obama Adviser, Signals Support For Gay Marriage

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Melody Barnes, Obama Adviser, Signals Support For Gay Marriage

Following a speech at Boston College's School of Law, President Obama's senior domestic policy aide acknowledged that she personally differed with Obama on the issue of gay marriage, multiple sources say.

Melody Barnes, who oversees the president's Domestic Policy Council, told a gathering of students that she sympathized with a questioner who expressed support for marriage equality, attendees said.

Paul Sousa, a co-founder of a GLBT rights organization Equal Rep, and the individual who asked Barnes the question, described the scene this way:

I ended with this, "I know there isn't much you can say right now because it's your job to defend President Obama even if he is wrong on a domestic policy stance. What I would like to know is - whether or not you support equal civil marriage rights for gay and lesbian Americans and if so, are you speaking or will you speak with President Obama on this civil rights matter?"

For her response, Ms. Barnes did state that she supports marriage equality and can appreciate the frustration that our community is feeling. She is trying to move the ball forward with other action items (DOMA, DADT, ENDA).

Britt Mosman a J.D. Candidate at the law school who was also at the event, told the Huffington Post that while "Barnes did express her own personal sympathy with the questioner's position in favor of same sex marriage," she also acknowledged "that she not only advises the President, but she also works for him." A third source with knowledge of the event confirmed Mosman's account.

Mosman said that video of the exchange would be posted soon. The White House, likewise, said it would try to provide additional context.

In making her remarks, Barnes becomes perhaps the highest-ranking White House official to offer her implicit support for same-sex marriage. The president, both during the campaign and since taking office, has expressed support for civil unions, but insisted that his religious beliefs prevent him from backing full-fledged marriage equality for gay couples.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/09/melody-barnes-obama-advis_n_351446.html