Obama: Views On Abortion, Women's Rights and Gay Rights; Where Does The President Stand?

With less than four weeks to go until the presidential election on Nov. 6, it is becoming increasingly important to understand where each candidates stands on issues that matter most to voters.

Latinos Post took a look at where President Obama stands on the issues of abortion, women's rights and gay rights. In the past two weeks, Latinos Post also discussed where Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney stood on several key issues.

Abortion and Women's Rights

Unlike his Republican rival, President Obama is an unwavering pro-choice supporter.  According to his website, Obama is "committed to protecting a woman's right to choose." Obama, who has stated he believes women have a right to decide what to do with their bodies, is also an opponent to repealing Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion in 1973.

The president also does not believe in cutting federal funding for abortions. While his opponent would end federal funding for organizations like Planned Parenthood, Obama states he has "opposed attempts to defund Planned Parenthood."

According to his website, the president passed the Affordable Care Act, "guaranteeing that women will not be denied coverage based on their health or charged higher rates because of their gender." The controversial act allows women to get fully-covered birth control contraceptives.

But women's health is not the only issue Obama has established his view in. According to his website, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which helps "women fight back when they don't receive equal pay for equal work." Obama also "championed the Paycheck Fairness Act," an act Romney has not taken a position in.

Gay Rights

In May, President Obama become the first sitting president to support marriage equality and has continued to voice his support of the LGBTQ community. Unlike Romney, who believes that the government should preserve traditional marriage, Obama strongly opposes limiting marriage rights to heterosexual couples.

According to his website, not only did the president repeal the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, he also declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional in February 2010. Obama has made several strides in supporting the LGBTQ community, including ordering the federal government to extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees in June 2009.

Obama has also passed several anti-discrimination laws since his election in 2008. In October 2010, the President recorded an "It Gets Better" video to show his support for LGBT youth who experienced bullying.

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