Celebs celebrate as President Obama backs same-sex marriage

It seems crazy to think that it’s taken so long, but a sitting U.S. president has finally come out in support of same-sex marriage.

President Barack Obama sat down for an interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts Wednesday and confirmed that he’s “always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly.” He then went on to explain exactly what being “treated fairly” means.

“At a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,” he said in the interview.

Celebrities took to Twitter and their personal blogs to celebrate Obama’s statements.

Alec Baldwin tweeted, “Obama gets it right on gay marriage. Bravo.” How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris, who is engaged to longtime partner David Burtka, seconded that, tweeting, “Bravo, Mr. President, and thank you.”

Kim Kardashian, meanwhile, shared her thoughts on the matter in more depth, with a post on her website. “This is such a huge step forward in our country’s fight for civil rights and I hope that today this will give hope to so many young people across the country,” she wrote.

“We’ve never had a president so supportive of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and today I am proud to be an American!! I’m so happy that our country is making history and moving forward. No more living in the past!”

Most celebrities only wanted to thank the president for finally speaking up and defending everyone’s right to marry. Andy Cohen, Kim Kardashian, Russell Simmons, Lynda Carter, Rachel Zoe, Josh Groban, Eliza Dushku, Dianna Agron, Debi Mazar, Michelle Branch and Sandra Bernhard all expressed their thanks, happiness and pride at Obama’s words.

“Thank you President @BarackObama for your beautiful and brave words. I’m overwhelmed,” Ellen DeGeneres tweeted, and had her post retweeted by Glee star Chris Colfer.

Jane Lynch, another woman in a same-sex marriage, also expressed her joy. “Pretty darn happy today,” she wrote on Twitter. “Thanks Mr President, for supporting the dignity of my family and so many others!”

Big-time LGBT supporter Lady Gaga also had kind words for the POTUS. “Obama, congratulations on being the first sitting President to support marriage equality,” she tweeted. “Feels like the future, and not the past.”

Other celebrities took a lighter tact, tweeting their approval of the president’s actions with a side dish of humor.

“With @MichelleObama & @JustinMikita permission I would like to marry @BarackObama right now!” Modern Family‘s Jesse Tyler Ferguson wrote.

In a similar vein, Patton Oswalt joked, “Oh my God — Seal Team Six just broke down my front door and are forcing me to marry @stephenfry! DAMN YOU, OBAMA!!!!!!”

But mostly celebs dwelled on the implications that Obama’s admission might have for young Americans.

“How many young lives did the President just save by saying that he supports them today? #Equality,” Audra McDonald tweeted.

Fran Drescher added, “So proud of our President who showed such leadership& the meaning of America’s freedom 4 all!”

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