Obama considers weighing in on Supreme Court gay-marriage case

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

The Obama administration is quietly considering urging the Supreme Court to overturn California’s ban on gay marriage, a step that would mark a political victory for advocates of same-sex unions and a deepening commitment by President Barack Obama to rights for gay couples.

Obama raised expectations among opponents of the Proposition 8 ban when he declared in last month’s inaugural address that gays and lesbians must be “treated like anyone else under the law.”

The administration has until next Thursday to intervene in the case by filing a “friend of the court” brief.

The Proposition 8 ballot initiative was approved by California voters in 2008 and overturned a state Supreme Court decision allowing gay marriage.

Twenty-nine other states have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage, and nine states and Washington, D.C., recognize same-sex marriage.