Obama Mentions Gays In First Speech

Yesterday was a little rough. The joy of Obama's win battled the loss of our civil rights. How could a nation elect Obama while simultaneously excising our equality? But, I don't want the setbacks to overshadow the successes. President-elect Barack Obama mentioned gays in his acceptance speech. This is not something he did in his speech on race. In fact, in that speech, there was a natural place for us to be mentioned, an organic moment where gays could have been bundled together with other people who have struggled, but this is what he said: " . . . as if this country - a country that has made it possible for one of his own members to run for the highest office in the land and build a coalition of white and black; Latino and Asian, rich and poor, young and old -- is still irrevocably bound to a tragic past."

Right there, right between "black" and "Latino." Or right between "Asian" and "rich." Or "poor" and "young." Or after "old." There. Somewhere. Say "gay and straight."

But, BUT, this is what he said in his acceptance speech:

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dreams of our founders are alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretch around schools and churches, in numbers this nation has never seen. By people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives. Because they believed that this time must be different. That their voices could be that difference.

It is the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled, Americans who send a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states - we are and always will be the United States of America.

One door closes, and another one opens.