Hillary Clinton Endorses Gay Marriage: 'Personally and as a Matter of Policy and Law

Reversing course on her previous stance against same-sex marriage, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has come out in support of gay matrimony. She announced her decision on Monday in a nearly six-minute video that was released by the Human Rights Campaign.

"For America to continue leading in the world, there is work we must do at home," Clinton said in the clip, citing the need to invest in national security and other domestic needs -- and also to live up to ideals associated with the rights of gays and lesbians.

"LGBT Americans are our colleagues, our teachers, our soldiers, our friends, our loved ones -- and they are full and equal citizens and deserve the rights of citizenship," Clinton continued. "That includes marriage."

Photo Credit: YouTube

Political observers will likely cite the Democratic Party's shift toward advocating gay marriage for her reversal, with President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and others joining in on affirming their belief that same-sex unions should be legal. Clinton is the latest to join this chorus.

It should also be noted that her embrace of gay marriage would likely be needed before launching interest in a 2016 presidential bid, seeing as her party has so fervently advocated for the cause. Like Obama, who endorsed same-sex marriage leading into the 2012 race, Clinton alluded to an "evolution" of sorts.

"Like so many others my personal views have been shaped over time by people I have known and loved, by my experience representing our nation on the world stage, my devotion to law and human rights and the guiding principles of my faith," she said. "Marriage, after all, is a fundamental building block of our society. A great joy, and yes, a great responsibility."

Watch Clinton's announcement, below:

While questions continue to surround a potential 2016 run, no definitive announcements have been made. This endorsement, though, is sure to continue sparking curiosities about Clinton's intentions. As Politico notes, her husband, Bill, and daughter, Chelsea, had previously embraced gay marriage.

This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

(H/T: Politico)

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