In 1996, then-Senate candidate Barack Obama wrote: "I support legalizing same-sex marriage and would oppose efforts to prohibit such marriages " (Weinger). The timing of the statement may be directly linked to then-President Bill Clinton's signing of DOMA, or the Defense Against Marriage Act, which Congress initiated in a bold move that "prevented the federal government from recognizing any marriage between gay or lesbian couples for the purpose of federal laws or programs, even if such couples are considered legally married by their home state” (GLAAD). However, two years later, then-Senator Obama in the midst of re-election was quoted as “'undecided'…in response to…'Do you support legalizing same-sex marriage?'” (Weinger). Coincidentally, while President Obama's views on legalizing same-sex marriage were changing as he ran for public office, potentially out of fear of isolating valuable voters, former President Clinton's views had evolved since leaving office, as evidenced by his support for same-sex marriage in New York in 2009 by saying, “I've changed my position” (Epstein). This change of heart is by no means unheard of in the political arena, however its impact on the LGBT community would soon prove detrimental. a margin of 61%, effectively changing the “California Family Code to formally define marriage… between one man and one woman” (BallotPedia). Although same-sex marriages were not performed in the state, Proposition 22 prevented the state from legally recognizing same-sex marriages conducted in other states, mirroring the government's actions four years earlier in DOMA (Robinson) . This growing religious movement g...... middle of document ......tes Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry." Proposition 8 Map. California Secretary of State. Web. May 10, 2014. .Robinson , BA “Proposition 22, Passed 2000, to Ban Same-Sex Marriage (SSM).” California Proposition 22 to Ban Same-Sex Marriage, September 12, 2007. Web May 10, 2014. .”Schwarzenegger and the battle over same-sex marriage in California. "The New American September 29, 2008: 8. US History in Context. Web. May 10, 2014."States | Freedom to Marry." States | Freedom to Marry. Freedom to Marry, December 20, 2013. Web. May 4, 2014. .Weinger, Mackenzie. "Obama Gay Marriage Quotes." POLITICO. Politico, May 9, 2012. Web. 7 May 2014. .