Jay Bakker, the son of televangelists Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, supports President Barack Obama's endorsement of gay marriage.

During an appearance on CNN, Bakker, the co-founder of Revolution Church in New York City, told anchor Don Lemon that he was “excited” by the president's new stance on the issue.

“I was extremely excited about it,” Bakker said when asked for his reaction. “You know, I'm so happy about it. I hope we get past the point of state law and we move it to federal law. But right now I'm just happy that the president spoke out for civil – you know, what I can see as the continuing of civil rights.”

Bakker reiterated that he does not believe being gay is a sin.

“Leviticus, they're going to use Romans, they're going to use all these verses,” he said in reference to faith leaders opposed to gay rights, “but the fact is they are not talking about what me and you understand as being gay and lesbian, transgender now. People always say, 'Well they talk about shellfish or things like that as well.' But Leviticus is old covenant and as far as what we read in the new testament that has more to do with worshiping other gods or prostitution in ministry.” (The video is embedded in the right panel of this page. Visit our video library for more videos.)

(Related: Jay Bakker leads rally opposing North Carolina gay marriage ban.)