Retired Gen. Colin Powell, once a foe of gays and lesbians serving openly in the military, has embraced same-sex marriage and says he support’s President Obama’s pro-marriage equality stand.

As with Obama, and many others, the former Secretary of State and four-star general told CNN that his opinion evolved as a result of personal contact with same-sex partners and parents.

“But, as I’ve thought about gay marriage, I know a lot of friends who are individually gay but in partnership with loved ones,” Powell said. “And they are as stable a family as my family is. And they raise children. And so I don’t see any reason not to say they should be able to get married.”

Powell is due here on June 6 to speak at the 20th anniversary dinner of Seattle City Club.









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Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP/Getty Images Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Image 2 of 18 Ex-Sen. Rick Santorum came to the fore as critique of 2003 Supreme Court ruling that tossed out Texas’ anti-sodomy statute, and continues to equate gay marriage with polygamy and bigamy as 2012 presidential candidate. On Monday he railed against gay adoption as “robbing children of something they need, they deserve, they have a right to.” less Ex-Sen. Rick Santorum came to the fore as critique of 2003 Supreme Court ruling that tossed out Texas’ anti-sodomy statute, and continues to equate gay marriage with polygamy and bigamy as 2012 presidential ... more Photo: T.J. Kirkpatrick / Getty Images Image 3 of 18 U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin “Nino” Scalia warned darkly that the Supremes were enacting the “homosexual agenda” in the Texas ruling, and argues that the Constitution cannot be used to justify rights for sexual minorities. less U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin “Nino” Scalia warned darkly that the Supremes were enacting the “homosexual agenda” in the Texas ruling, and argues that the Constitution cannot be used to justify ... more Photo: JIM WATSON / AFP/Getty Images Image 4 of 18 Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, the key 25th Senate vote for same-sex marriage. Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, the key 25th Senate vote for same-sex marriage. Photo: Meryl Schenker Image 5 of 18 Image 6 of 18 President Barack Obama announced that he supports same-sex marriage on May 9, 2012, becoming the first U.S. president to do so. President Barack Obama announced that he supports same-sex marriage on May 9, 2012, becoming the first U.S. president to do so. Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS Image 7 of 18 Dan Savage writes a sex advice column for The Stranger, appears on liberal Cable TV shows, lectures at colleges around the country, is renowned for his foul mouth and has seen his critiques of monogamy used as basis for a New York Times Magazine piece. He has mercilessly baited anti-gay politicians, from religious-right presidential candidate Gary Bauer more than a decade ago to ex-Sen. Rick Santorum in 2012. less Dan Savage writes a sex advice column for The Stranger, appears on liberal Cable TV shows, lectures at colleges around the country, is renowned for his foul mouth and has seen his critiques of monogamy used as ... more Photo: Jamie McCarthy / 2011 Getty Images Image 8 of 18 "As I’ve thought about gay marriage, I know a lot of friends who are individually gay but in partnership with loved ones,” Retired Gen. Colin Powell told CNN. “And they are as stable a family as my family is. And they raise children. And so I don’t see any reason not to say they should be able to get married.” less "As I’ve thought about gay marriage, I know a lot of friends who are individually gay but in partnership with loved ones,” Retired Gen. Colin Powell told CNN. “And they are as stable a family as my ... more Photo: AFP/Getty Images Image 9 of 18 Vice President Joe Biden says he is "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex and heterosexual married couples both having "the same exact rights." Vice President Joe Biden says he is "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex and heterosexual married couples both having "the same exact rights." Photo: Win McNamee / Getty Images Image 10 of 18 Image 11 of 18 Gov. Chris Gregoire went through “my own personal journey” in coming to support same-sex marriage. The journey has reinvigorated a two-term governor who confessed last fall to being tired and disheartened. “I feel better than I have in seven years,” she says. less Gov. Chris Gregoire went through “my own personal journey” in coming to support same-sex marriage. The journey has reinvigorated a two-term governor who confessed last fall to being tired and ... more Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images Image 12 of 18 Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, like Gregoire a practicing Catholic, pushed legalization same-sex marriage through the Empire State’s fractious Legislature last spring. It became signature issue for the newly elected governor, a top Democratic presidential prospect for 2016 (and Al Pacino lookalike). less Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, like Gregoire a practicing Catholic, pushed legalization same-sex marriage through the Empire State’s fractious Legislature last spring. It became signature issue for the ... more Photo: Spencer Platt / Getty Images Image 13 of 18 Ex-U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson was lead counsel for George W. Bush in 2000 election fight, the conservatives’ “go-to” lawyer in Washington, D.C., and is now co-counsel in legal fight to overturn California’s Prop. 8 – the measure that outlawed same-sex marriage. The other co-counsel – David Boies, chief lawyer for Al Gore in Bush v. Gore. less Ex-U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson was lead counsel for George W. Bush in 2000 election fight, the conservatives’ “go-to” lawyer in Washington, D.C., and is now co-counsel in legal fight to overturn ... more Photo: Jason Kempin / Getty Images Image 14 of 18 Retired Lt. Col. Grethe Cammermeyer is a best-selling, Whidbey-based author (“Serving in Silence”) who fought 20-year battle against exclusion of gays and lesbians from the military. She is tall, regal, a community leader and canny organizer who helped turn out big crowd who urged State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano, to support marriage equality. less Retired Lt. Col. Grethe Cammermeyer is a best-selling, Whidbey-based author (“Serving in Silence”) who fought 20-year battle against exclusion of gays and lesbians from the military. She is tall, regal, ... more Photo: Associated Press Image 15 of 18 Image 16 of 18 Ex-Gov. Mitt Romney, front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, tried to run to the left of Sen. Ted Kennedy in 1994, arguing he could be a more effective defender/advocate of gay rights, but now declares opposition to marriage equality. “I oppose same-sex marriage and that has been my view,” he said the other day in New Hampshire. less Ex-Gov. Mitt Romney, front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, tried to run to the left of Sen. Ted Kennedy in 1994, arguing he could be a more effective defender/advocate of gay rights, but now ... more Photo: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images Image 17 of 18 Pastor Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church, an ex-NFLer, has opposed everything-but-marriage statutes passed by the Washington Legislature, and carried on a long-running feud with The Stranger. Pastor Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church, an ex-NFLer, has opposed everything-but-marriage statutes passed by the Washington Legislature, and carried on a long-running feud with The Stranger. Photo: SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER Image 18 of 18 Colin Powell: Gay families 'as stable as my family' 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

Powell is a devout and very traditional Episcopalian. He balked, two decades ago, at President Bill Clinton’s efforts to let gays and lesbians serve openly in the armed forces. He was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was implemented.

Powell began his public evolving in February of 2010, when he said times and circumstances have changed, and that the military’s gays and lesbians should no longer serve in silence. (During the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, linguists whose skills were badly needed by the military were discharged due to their sexual preference.)

He has now evolved on marriage.

“I have no problems with it,” Powell told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. “I don’t see any reason not to say that (same-sex couples) should be able to get married under the laws of their state or the laws of the country.”

“In terms of the legal matter of creating a contract between two people that’s called marriage, and allowing them to live together with the protection of law, it seems to me is the way we should be moving in this country.”

“I support the President’s decision.”

Washington, in February, became the seventh-state to legalize same-sex marriage. Marriage equality opponents have until June 6 to collect 120,577 valid voter signatures to put the law on hold and force a vote in November.

Maryland is the eighth state, and faces the similar likelihood of a fall referendum. An ABC News/Washington Post poll, released on Tuesday, shows Americans favoring marriage equality by a 53-39 percent margin.