WASHINGTON – U.S. President Barack Obama has said he now supports same-sex marriage, ending months of equivocation on a subject with powerful election-year consequences.
    
Obama said he has concluded that it is important for him to affirm that he thinks same-sex couples should be able to get married.
    
He said he came to the conclusion over the course of several years of talking to family and friends.
    
Obama has previously said his personal views of gay marriage were evolving, a stance that frustrated gay rights supporters.
    
Obama revealed his support for gay marriage in an interview with ABC News.