Barack Obama is the first president to endorse gay marriage. People in central Alabama, like the Nation, are talking about what it means for gay couples and the conservative majority.
This announcement generated a frenzy of responses - from politicians to church leaders and White House candidates. Many believe this is another step he will use to stay in the White House, others believe it's undermining a century-long institution.
"It made us proud to be a supporter of Obama," Klint McLemore, a same sex partner said.
Paul and Klint have been together for three years. For them, President Obama's announcement means a leap towards equality.
"Places like this need us," Paul Dease, Klint's partner said. "They need us to be the change. We could easily go to LA or any other liberal enclave but we also love it here (in Alabama)."
They say, it's not a religious issue - it's a legal one.
"If he were sick and in the hospital I wouldn't have any legal rights to visit him if his parents didn't want me there or if one partner dies, what do you do with the assets?" Dease said.
In the "Bible Belt" region, many churches oppose to gay marriage but while they believe homosexuality is a sin - it's the person who's most important.
"The Christian view is that it is not natural and an abomination, but there is another aspect Christians need to be aware of - and that is Christians treat homosexuality as the abominable sin and there is a rejection of the person and that is contrary also to what the Bible says about loving your neighbor," Craig Branch, Director, Apologetics Resource Center said.
Political analysts say, the President's support of gay marriage is a political move - particularly following the North Carolina vote.
'He wants enthusiasm among those voters," Natalie Davis, Political Science Professor, Birmingham Southern said. "It's also an affluent community whether it's Hollywood, New York or Chicago. It says to them, I've said it, I'm with you and I'll fight for it. It brings people out and it brings out their checkbooks as well."
"We wear rings - it's our sign of a commitment and hopefully one day we can get married," McLemore said.
Republican candidate, Mitt Romney also chimed in... he says marriage should be restricted to one man and one woman. Romney says individual states should be able to decide whether to grant legal benefits to same-sex couples
