Obama says hopes Supreme Court rules in favor of gay marriage

[January 23, 2015]  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday he hoped the Supreme Court would issue a ruling that would prevent states from banning gay marriage when it rules on the issue later this year.

The court last week agreed to decide whether states can ban gay marriage. Obama has said previously that he is in favor of allowing same-sex couples to wed.

"I'm hopeful the Supreme Court comes to the right decision," Obama said during an interview on YouTube.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Sandra Maler)

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