President Obama comes out against Minnesota's proposed gay marriage ban

Obama, through a spokeswoman, says he's against Minnesota's marriage amendment.

Today, President Obama made clear that he does not support a proposal that would enshrine a gay marriage ban in Minnesota's constitution.

Kristen Sosanie, spokeswoman for Obama's Minnesota campaign, said today in a statement: "While the President does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the record is clear that the President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same sex couples."

"That's what the Minnesota ballot initiative would do -- it would single out and discriminate against committed gay and lesbian couples -- and that's why the President doesn't support it."

As recently as August 2010, an Obama spokesman said the president is opposed to same sex marriage. But in February, a spokesman said Obama's views on the topic continue to "evolve." Later that month the president directed Attorney General Eric Holder to not enforce a federal law banning recognition of same sex marriages.

In other words, Obama's views seem to be evolving toward open support for legal equality for same sex couples, with his public opposition to Minnesota's marriage-restricting constitutional amendment being the latest step in the direction.