Barack Obama, in a letter to the Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, strongly opposed the California ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage. It's a risky move. He will likely face criticism that by opposing the initiative in a state that has legalized same sex marriage, he's supporting gay marriage. (Officially, he has said marriage is between a man and a woman). There's also a church angle to this. Obama's longtime denomination, the United Church of Christ (it's also my family's church), has endorsed same-sex marriage and ordained gay pastors.