Charles Rosen : Obama 's statement on gay rights has effect similar to Civil Rights Act . His statement instantly obliterated tens of millions of his gay supporters , he writes . Gallup Poll : 65 % of Republicans , 57 % of independents support same - sex marriage . Gay supporters , he writes , now feel they helped elect a transformational president .
Charles Kaiser : Obama 's stance on gay rights has effect similar to Civil Rights Act . His statement instantly obliterated doubts of millions of his gay supporters , he writes . Gallup Poll : 65 % of Democrats , 57 % of independents support same-sex marriage . Gay supporters , he says , now feel they helped elect a transformational president .