President Obama: Religious freedom not an excuse to deny same-sex marriage

Speaking at a Democratic Party fundraiser on Sunday, President Obama said that freedom of religion is not an excuse to deny same-sex marriage.

"We affirm that we cherish our religious freedom and are profoundly respectful of religious traditions,

"But we also have to say clearly that our religious freedom doesn't grant us the freedom to deny our fellow Americans their constitutional rights.

"And that even as we are respectful and accommodating genuine concerns and interests of religious institutions, we need to reject politicians who are supporting new forms of discrimination as a way to scare up votes.

"That's not how we move America forward,

"Seven years ago, we came together not just to elect a president, but to reaffirm our faith in that most American of ideals: the notion that people, no matter where they come from or who they love can change this country.

"And tonight, thanks to the unbending sense of justice passed down through generations of citizens who never gave up hope that we could bring this country closer to our founding ideals, we now live in America where our marriages are equal as well," President Obama said.