What life experience informs your position on gay marriage in America?

After years of saying his position on gay marriage was "evolving", President Obama has now affirmed his support for it. He told ABC News, "I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married."

His statement came one day after voters in North Carolina approved a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

What is your position on this issue? Is it the same as it's always been, or has it changed over time? It's hard to have honest debates in an election year, but our hunch is that voters are more influenced by their own experience and by the stories they hear from others than by pundits and big-budget advertising.

So, whether you are for or against it, we'd like to know if you have a personal story that informs your position on whether states should allow gay marriage. If your religious faith informs your perspective, we want to know it. If your family or friends have shaped your views, let us know. Whether you're mind's made up or you're still struggling with a decision, your real story can be part of a civil and honest conversation on this issue.

Here are a few videos of Minnesotans (who will vote on this topic later this year) telling their own stories about why they do or do not support a ban on same-sex marriages (click the "next" icon to scroll through):

* indicates required field

First Name *

Last Name *

E-mail *

Phone

City *

State or Province

Country *

What's your position on gay marriage?

I think the law SHOULD allow same-sex couples to marry.
I think the law SHOULD NOT allow same-sex couples to marry.
I support laws that would confer legal rights on same-sex couples without calling it "marriage".
I don't have a position on this issue.
Other.

General opinion aside, what personal experiences from your life inform your vote on this issue? *

If you could ask someone whose views fall on the other side of this issue from yours one question, what would that question be? (Please be civil.)

May we publish your insights and attribute them to you? (Your comments may be edited for length or clarity.) *

Yes

Contact me first

And now, just a few questions to help us get to know you better.

What is your gender?

What is your job title?

What political party, if any, do you identify with most closely?

What race or ethnicity are you?

Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. If someone on our team is interested in learning more from you, you will hear back from us soon. Send any questions or further thoughts to Anna at aweggel@americanpublicmedia.org.

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