Lending his public support for same-sex marriage Wednesday, President Barack Obama said his decision to announce his view comes after years of "evolving" on the issue.

In the Bay area, gay advocates are applauding the President's words, while those not in favor are worried about what might come.

Carrie West and Mark Bias have been together for 35 years. Together as gay rights advocates, they run the novelty GaYbor store in Ybor City.

West is thrilled with Obama's announcement of support. "This is quite a feat, I tell ya," he said.

Although they're not able to legally marry in Florida, West said they have made strides in recent months.

He points to Tampa's decision to approve a domestic partner registry and felt Obama's stance now builds on such moves by cities like Tampa.

"This is going a thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand fold how big this is," West said. "This is going across the country. The states that have legalized gay marriage -- it's such a positive, because it reinforced and supports the culture and their identities, and also their beings."

Obama initially said he thought civil unions were enough, but in an interview with ABC News, the President said he changed his mind after talking with friends and family, as well as staff members in same-sex relationships.

"At a certain point, I've just concluded that, for me personally," the President said, "this is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married."

Of course, there is the other side of the argument.

"It takes away the reality that God created us as a male and female," Tampa's Northwest Community Church pastor Scott Collins said. "It's about procreation. It's about family. It's about life."

Collins believes marriage should be between a man and woman.

"Even the way we logically work and function, with plumping, it's male and female parts -- nuts and bolts are male and female," Collins said. "Everything has always operated in a system."

Back in Ybor City, West and Bias said if they are ever able to get married in the Bay area, they probably will.

"That would be a big party."

But for now, they're happy celebrating the President's decision.

Obama stressed his belief is personal and same-sex marriage is an issue best legally decided by individual states.