In New York, gay community hails Obama

US: The blackboard on the sidewalk outside the storied Stonewall Inn, a New York bar widely seen as the home of the US gay rights movement, said it all: "Obama supports gay marriage -- let's drink."

Inside the Greenwich Village watering hole, patrons celebrated US President Barack Obama's decision Wednesday to publicly back same-sex marriage -- but also expressed concern that the risk could cost him re-election.

"It's historic, I am very happy," a 50-year-old financial advisor visiting New York, told AFP.

"It shows how fast this issue has evolved in the minds of the public. Politicians are not afraid anymore. The tide has turned." Obama made a high-risk political gamble when he told ABC News: "I've just concluded, for me, personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married." AFP