White House press secretary says America’s growing support for equal marriage is a ‘remarkable evolution’

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White House Press Secretary Jay Carney has praised America’s growing support for equal marriage, calling it a “remarkable evolution”.

It’s been almost a year since President Obama announced his support for the measure in a landmark television interview with ABC News.

The US Supreme Court is currently presiding over the legality of same-sex marriage in the US.

At present, 54 of 100 US senators – including two Republicans – have pledged their backing towards marriage equality.

Three Democratic senators have failed to join with their colleagues in supporting marriage rights for same-sex couples.

“I believe that a marriage is a union between one man and one woman,” West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin said in a statement to Bloomberg News. ”

Senator Mary Landrieua of Louisiana recently told CNN that while she personally believes same-sex couples should be able to marry, she can’t officially take that position because her state’s constitution bans marriage equality.

Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor has said he opposes equal marriage.

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters on Monday that President Obama “was not and is not in a position to pass judgement” on the members of his party who have not backed same-sex marriage.

“The country deserves credit,” Mr Carney said. “It’s been a remarkable evolution and represents an embrace of the basic principles of equality that the president feels strongly about, that Americans across the country feel strongly about. And I think I can safely say that the president hopes it continues.”

In March, an ABC News poll found that 58% of Americans now support the legalisation of same-sex marriage, while 36% oppose it.

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