i liked him before because he was the only democrat to force the issue of gay marriage by providing marriage certificates to same sex couples while he was mayor of san francisco.
cynically: it’s san francisco so he knew he wouldn’t receive any political blow back for the stunt; but it came at a time where even obama publicly espoused anti-gay marriage views; so it felt like there was hope that my life partner wouldn’t be deported because i couldn’t sponsor him for citizenship due to doma.