Outgoing US President Barack Obama has cited the legalisation of same-sex marriage as one of the highlights of his record in office.
Obama, who has been heavily criticised for pro-LGBT policies during two terms as President, made the comments in his farewell speech earlier this week.
He spoke of his pride in the redefinition of marriage and also called for “LGBT rights” to be expanded under future presidents.
Redefinition of marriage
The US Supreme Court backed same-sex marriage in 2015.
In 2014, Obama was heavily criticised for forcing all federal contractors to conform to the administration’s view on sexuality through a so-called ‘anti-discrimination’ executive order.
The order prevents federal contractors from discriminating against people who identify as LGBT, but makes no allowances for faith-based organisations to protect their ethos.
Injunction
President of the National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, warned that such rules could “become a weapon used to punish and harass individuals and groups who support marriage as the union of one man and one woman”.
In its last year, the Obama administration also faced legal action from 13 states after it ordered schools to let transsexual pupils use the toilets, changing rooms and showers of their choice, or face serious cuts in funding.
A nationwide injunction was issued by Judge Reed O’Connor.