In the 2008 US presidential campaign , Obama boasted to gay Democrat groups of her husband 's record on LGBT rights : his support of the Illinois Human Rights Act , the Illinois gender violence act , the Employment Non-Discrimination Act , repealing Do n't Ask Do n't Tell , and full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act , civil unions ; along with hate crimes protection for sexual orientation and gender identity and renewed effort to fight HIV and AIDS . They have both opposed amendments proposed to ban same-sex marriage in the federal , California , and Florida constitutions . She said that the US Supreme Court delivered justice in the '' Lawrence v. Texas '' case and drew a connection between the struggles for gay rights and civil rights by saying , " We are all only here because of those who marched and bled and died , from Selma to Stonewall , in the pursuit of a more perfect union . " After the repeal of Do n't Ask Do n't Tell on September 20 , 2011 , Obama included openly gay service members in her national military families initiative . On May 9 , 2012 , Barack and Michelle Obama came out publicly in favor of same-sex marriage . Prior to this , Michelle Obama had never publicly stated her position on this issue . Senior White House officials said that Michelle Obama and Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett had been the two most consistent advocates for same-sex marriage in Barack Obama 's life . Michelle said " This is an important issue for millions of Americans , and for Barack and me , it really comes down to the values of fairness and equality we want to pass down to our girls . These are basic values that kids learn at a very young age and that we encourage them to apply in all areas of their lives . And in a country where we teach our children that everyone is equal under the law , discriminating against same-sex couples just is n't right . It 's as simple as that . " At the 2012 DNC Michelle said , " Barack knows the American Dream because he 's lived it ... and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity , no matter who we are , or where we 're from , or what we look like , or who we love . " In May 2009 , Obama delivered the commencement speech at a graduating ceremony at UC Merced in Merced County , California , the address being praised afterward by students who found her relatable . Kevin Fagan of the '' San Francisco Chronicle '' wrote that there was chemistry between Obama and the students
2012 DNC
2012 Democratic National Convention
Michelle Obama