President Obama attends 3 fundraisers in New York on Thursday . He tells a gay advocacy group that ` ` gay ##s deserve the same treatment '' Having previously opposed civil unions , Obama does n't mention ` ` marriage '' A Republican group criticizes the ` ` celebrity - studded '' speech in advance .
Barack Obama attends 3 fundraisers in New York on Thursday . He tells a gay advocacy group that `` gay couples deserve the same rights '' Having previously backed civil unions , Obama does n't mention `` marriage '' A Republican group criticizes the `` celebrity-studded '' fundraisers in advance .