“It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,” he said.

Deanna Hurlbert, interim director of the MSU LBGT Resource Center, said the announcement is “emotionally and spiritually affirming” for the LBGT community, but she did not think it would have any lasting effect on bettering marriage equality.

“The implications are not all that significant until something gets into legislation,” she said.

Hurlbert said there already are legislators with the power to support civil rights legislation, but until something tangible happens, it is only an official stance.

Obama had long been undecided about whether to support same-sex marriage, saying his views on the issue were evolving, which frustrated LBGT activists for not taking a definitive stance.

Josh Braude, a public relations coordinator for PRISM, said he, like Obama, is from Illinois and was surprised that Obama had to make an announcement stating his views when he seemed in favor of marriage equality as a state legislator.

“Gay people should have marriage equality because we aren’t any different than anyone else,” Braude said.

Braude added that the argument likely is spurred by political gains, and said it was interesting timing for the president to endorse such a polarizing issue during an election year.

The president’s endorsement of same-sex marriage comes just days after Vice President Joe Biden said he was “absolutely comfortable” with same-sex marriage. The Obama Administration was quick to distance itself from Biden’s statement as it was a personal and not an official viewpoint.

Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, said he doubted Obama would have said anything concerning same-sex marriage if not for Biden’s comment.

“I don’t think (Biden) intended to say what he said, and I think President Obama is coming in to clean up the situation,” Jones said.

Hurlbert described Obama’s announcement as helpful to the LBGT cause, but said it is not a significant factor in securing further rights.

“I think he’s playing the electorate — which I don’t think is inappropriate,” she said.

Obama’s announcement likely will not have a big effect on the presidential election, Jones said.

Most voters who already have decided on a candidate have based their decision on other factors, like the economy, and Obama’s support for same-sex marriage isn’t likely to sway opinions, he said.

“The number one factor in all elections, from my experience, has been jobs and the economy,” he said.