Warren’s views might be hurtful to gays; Obama does not think they are harmful.

To which one can only add: well, Obama’s marriage wasn’t just voided by a campaign in which Warren played a part, was it? If that isn’t tangibly harmful to gay people, what is? But the deeper truth is that while Obama does not share Warren’s opposition to any civil recognition for gay couples, he does believe that gay couples belong in a separate but equal institution. To my mind, this is not civil equality – and Obama cannot claim to be a "fierce proponent" of such equality, as he did today, without telling an untruth.