President Barack Obama participates in an interview with Robin Roberts of ABC's Good Morning America, in the Cabinet Room of the White House, May 9, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

From the White House Blog

Today, in an interview with ABC News, President Obama said, “I think same sex couples should be able to get married.”

With that one statement, he made it clear that he believes that it’s wrong to prevent couples who are in loving, committed relationships from getting married.

Obviously, the President has spent time giving this issue serious consideration, and his view has been shaped by conversations with his family, his friends, neighbors, and the people who work with him at the White House.

In the interview, he said that he had discussed the issue around the dinner table with his wife and daughters. He said he’d heard from service members who, even after the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, felt constrained because they aren’t allowed to get married.

And in the end, the President said, he believes it’s important to “treat others the way you would want to be treated.”

Later tonight, ABC will air excerpts of the interview on “World News With Diane Sawyer” and “Nightline.”

Tomorrow, the entire interview will run on Good Morning America.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka issued the following statement tonight:

“I strongly agree with the President that all Americans deserve the equal opportunity to have their loving committed partnerships legally recognized as marriage, with the same rights and responsibilities. I am proud of President Obama for taking this courageous stand, and I know his upbringing in diverse Hawaii helped to shape his understanding that everyone should be treated with equality.

“No religious institution should ever be forced to conduct a ceremony that is against their beliefs, but as a legal matter all Americans deserve the same rights. As someone who has been happily married for 64 years, I believe every American who loves another person should have the same right to form the bond of marriage and commit to living a life together, for better or for worse.”

Senator Akaka voted against the enactment of the “Defense of Marriage Act” in 1996 and has supported efforts to repeal it. He is an original cosponsor of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Respect for Marriage Act of 2011, and was a strong supporter of the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in 2010.

From Senator Daniel K. Inouye’s Facebook page:

“I am very pleased that the President affirmed his support for marriage equality. I think everyone who wishes to enter into marriage and start a life together should be allowed to do so, regardless of sexual orientation. How can we call ourselves the land of the free, if we don’t permit people who love one another to get married? I look forward to working with the President to ensure his position on marriage equality becomes law in this country.”