The Almanac of American Politics (2008) rated Barack Obama's overall social policies in 2006 as more conservative than 21% of the Senate, and more liberal than 77% of the Senate (18% and 77%, respectively, in 2005).
Abortion and contraception In his write-in response to a 1998 survey, Obama stated his abortion position as conforming with the Democratic platform: "Abortions should be legally available in accordance with Roe v. Wade."Obama, Barack. "1998 Illinois State Legislative National Political Awareness Test", Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on January 21, 2007. His presidential candidacy was endorsed by several groups advocating for legal abortion, including NARAL Pro-Choice AmericaNARAL PRO-CHOICE AMERICA ENDORSES SEN. BARACK OBAMA and Planned Parenthood.PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND ENDORSEMENTS In August 2008, in Lake Forest, California, Obama responded to the question as to when life begins, "Whether you're looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity is above my pay grade."
In the Illinois state legislature, Obama opposed the Induced Infant Liability Act and repeatedly voted against requirements and restrictions intended to stop what opponents label as "born alive" abortions. Obama said that his opposition was because of technical language he felt might have "interfered with a woman's right to choose" and said Illinois law "already required medical care in such situations."Obama faces new criticism on abortion, NBC News, August 20, 2008.
Obama voted against a bill that would have made it a federal crime for anybody other than a parent to accompany a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion.
He expressed displeasure with the Supreme Court ruling that upheld a ban on "partial-birth" abortions saying the ban didn't sufficiently consider the mother's health. Presidential candidates on abortion Accessed March 21, 2013.OnTheIssues.org Barack Obama on Abortion He has, however, expressed support of banning some late-term abortions, provided they include exemptions for the mental and physical health of the mother.
During the third debate during the 2008 presidential election, Obama further detailed his stance on abortion: "[...] there surely is some common ground when both those who believe in choice and those who are opposed to abortion can come together and say, 'We should try to prevent unintended pregnancies by providing appropriate education to our youth, communicating that sexuality is sacred and that they should not be engaged in cavalier activity, and providing options for adoption, and helping single mothers if they want to choose to keep the baby'. Those are all things that we put in the Democratic platform for the first time this year, and I think that's where we can find some common ground, because nobody's pro-abortion. I think it's always a tragic situation. We should try to reduce these circumstances."
Obama voted for a $100 million education initiative to reduce teen pregnancy and provide contraceptives to young people.
Embryonic stem cell research Obama supports embryonic stem cell research and was a co-sponsorStatement of Support for Stem Cell Research, Barack Obama, U.S. Senator for Illinois of the 2005 Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act which was passed by both houses of Congress but vetoed by President Bush. Obama condemned Bush's veto, saying, "Democrats want this bill to pass. Conservative, pro-life Republicans want this bill to pass. By large margins, the American people want this bill to pass. It is only the White House standing in the way of progress – standing in the way of so many potential cures." He also voted in favor of the 2007 bill lifting restrictions on embryonic stem cell research that was passed but was also vetoed by President Bush.
On March 9, 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13505, Allowing "responsible, scientifically worthy human stem cell research, including human embryonic stem cell research, to the extent permitted by law".2009 Executive Orders Signed by Barack Obama This executive order also served to revoke Executive Order 13435, signed on June 20, 2007, by President Bush.
Disability rights Obama was the only Democratic presidential candidate to issue an unsolicited statement expressing his views on disability community issues. For example, he stated his intention to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and expressed his support of the ADA Restoration Act.Disability statement video, www.barackobama.com
LGBTQ rights
On March 15, 2007, Obama stated, "I do not agree...that homosexuality is immoral."Thrush, Glenn. "Clinton, Obama: Gays not immoral" Newsday. March 15, 2007. During the July 23, 2007, CNN/YouTube debate, he further stated, "... we've got to make sure that everybody is equal under the law. And the civil unions that I proposed would be equivalent in terms of making sure that all the rights that are conferred by the state are equal for same-sex couples as well as for heterosexual couples." Obama supports expanding the protections afforded by hate crimes statutes to cover crimes committed against individuals because of sexual orientation or gender identity. He also called for full equality for gay people during his second inaugural address on January 21, 2013, saying, "Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law — for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well." This was the first time that a president mentioned gay rights or the word "gay" in an inaugural address.
LGBTQ in the military He also stated his opposition to the U.S. military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy, and signed a bill repealing it.
LGBTQ and hate crimes On October 28, 2009, Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which added gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability to the federal hate crimes law.
LGBTQ and anti-discrimination laws Obama has said that he would sign into law the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which – if passed – would prohibit discrimination in hiring and employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
On July 21, 2014, Obama signed Executive Order 13672, adding "gender identity" to the categories protected against discrimination in hiring in the federal civilian workforce and both "sexual orientation" and gender identity" to the categories protected against discrimination in hiring and employment on the part of federal government contractors and sub-contractors.
LGBTQ adoption Obama has said that he supports same-sex couples adopting children. Obama extended the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to cover employees taking unpaid leave to care for the children of same-sex partners.
LGBTQ and religion Obama was criticized for inviting Reverend Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, and Reverend Hezekiah Walker – who all have a history of making anti-gay remarks – to participate in a three-day gospel music campaign tour called "Embrace the Courage", as part of Obama's "40 Days of Faith and Family" campaign in South Carolina.Ireland, Doug. (October 25, 2007) Obama's Anti-Gay Gamble Gay City News. Accessed October 30, 2007. The Obama campaign responded to criticism in a press release, saying, "I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBTQ community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin's views and will continue to fight for these rights as president of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division." For events held on Sunday, October 28, 2007, Obama added Reverend Andy Sidden, an openly gay pastor.Hamby, Peter. (October 27, 2007) Obama's gospel concerts raise hornet's nest of a dilemma CNN. Accessed October 30, 2007.
LGBTQ appointees Sharon Lubinski, the first openly gay woman in her position, was formally nominated the U.S. marshal for the Minnesota district by President Obama in October 2009 and then confirmed by the Senate in December of that year. On January 4, 2010, Amanda Simpson was appointed by Obama the senior technical advisor to the U.S. Department of Commerce, being possibly the first transgender person appointed to a government post by any US president. Monique Dorsainvil has served as the deputy director of advance and special events and director of planning and events for public engagement and intergovernmental affairs before accepting the position of the White House's LGBT liaison in 2014.
Same-sex marriage Obama supported legalizing same-sex marriage when he first ran for the Illinois Senate in 1996. Also, he was undecided about legalizing same-sex marriage when he ran for re-election to the Illinois Senate in 1998. He supported civil unions but not same-sex marriage when he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004 and for U.S. president in 2008. Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would have defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman. However, in a 2008 interview, he stated that he personally believed that marriage was "between a man and a woman" and that he was "not in favor of gay marriage." He supported civil unions that would establish legal standing equal to that of marriage for same-sex couples, but believed that decisions regarding the definition of the word "marriage" should be left to the states.Obama Statement on Vote Against Constitutional Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage Barack Obama: US Senator for Illinois (accessed March 2, 2007).Philip Elliott. Obama's N.H. visit brings little criticism, much love. Associated Press, printed in Rockford Register Star, February 13, 2007 (accessed March 2, 2007).
In December 2008, Obama called for repealing the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
On May 15, 2008, in a statement in response to the ruling of the California Supreme Court, Obama announced his opposition to Proposition 8, an initiative measure proposed for the 2008 California General Election ballot that would amend the California Constitution to define the word "marriage" as the union of a man and a woman.Dems Offer Lackluster Marriage Remarks Queerty. Accessed January 29, 2009. In a letter that he read to the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club on June 29, 2008, Obama reiterated his opposition to the proposed amendment, stating that he supported the extension of "fully equal rights and benefits to same-sex couples under both state and federal law."Obama rejects proposed California gay marriage ban.
In August 2010, Obama reiterated that he remained opposed to gay marriage.
On May 9, 2012, Obama told an interviewer that he supported same-sex marriage. He was the first sitting U.S. president to do so. He stated:
On March 1, 2013, Obama, speaking about Hollingsworth v. Perry, the U.S. Supreme Court case about Proposition 8, he said:
The administration's brief did not describe all state bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, but argued that the proper standard to apply to laws that use sexual orientation as a category is "heightened scrutiny", which legal observers say no state ban could survive.
In October 2014, President Obama told an interviewer, "Ultimately, I think the Equal Protection Clause does guarantee same-sex marriage in all fifty states". He praised the way the U.S. Supreme Court had addressed the issue, saying, "There have been times where the stars were aligned and the Court, like a thunderbolt, issues a ruling like Brown v. Board of Education, but that's pretty rare. And, given the direction of society, for the Court to have allowed the process to play out the way it has may make the shift less controversial and more lasting."
Conversion therapy In April 2015, Obama condemned the practice of conversion therapy in response to a petition calling for the practice to be banned.