Email Share 310 Shares

In a news conference that marked the first time an openly gay person conducted an on-camera White House news conference, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz addressed questions Wednesday over President Obama’s remark that being gay is a “lifestyle choice.”

In response to a question from the Washington Blade on whether Obama regrets using the phrase, which he used in a YouTube interview with GloZell Green last week, Schultz replied he hasn’t talked to Obama about the matter.

“I haven’t talked to the president about using that phrase, but I think the president’s views on this are well known,” Schultz said.

Asked whether Obama thinks being gay is a choice, Schultz replied, “I don’t think so.”

Obama used the “lifestyle choice” phrase in the context of saying he hopes the Supreme Court makes the “right decision” on pending litigation seeking marriage equality.

“I’m hopeful the Supreme Court comes to the right decision, but I will tell you, people’s hearts have opened up on this issue,” Obama said. “I think people know that treating folks unfairly, even if you disagree with their lifestyle choice, the fact of the matter is, they’re not bothering you. Let them live their lives, and under the law, they should be treated equally.”

Obama has previously rejected the notion that being gay is a choice. In 2010 town-hall style event, he told students, “I don’t think it’s a choice. I think people are born with a certain make-up.”

Also in the White House briefing, Schultz said marriage should be “enjoyed by every man and every woman” when the Blade asked what the “right decision” would look like from the Supreme Court.

“I think we can all guess,” Schultz said. “The president believes in the pillar of equality. The president believes, and he’s spoken out to this many times, but, you know, marriage should be something that’s enjoyed by every man and every woman.”

Asked if that response means Obama wants to see a 50-state ruling from the Supreme Court striking down any remaining state bans on same-sex marriage, Schultz demurred.

“I am just not an expert on sort of what the actual details are pending before the court, so I’m going to leave it to the president to voice our view,” Schultz said.