Historical Election: From Obama to Prop 8

I didn’t believe Obama had a chance to win until he won the Iowa primary on January 4, 2008, but an African American candidate winning in one of the whitest states in the country (91% white, 2.5% black) changed the political landscape forever. From that point on, Democratic voters decided to test their country and put forth the best candidate for the job… and not just the best one they thought could beat the Republicans. And on November 4th a historic candidacy became a historic election.

At the same time black America saw a historical milestone pass, gay America saw another regress. Proposition 8 in California and similar ballot initiatives in Florida and Arizona outlawed gay marriage. If there is one tradition in America worth keeping, it’s the continual expansion of civil rights to all people. I do not understand why people felt the need to explicitly deny the rights of others, especially in this day and age.

If you think being gay is a choice, you are an idiot. Just imagine if you could force yourself to marry someone against your sexual orientation.

If you think people are born gay and still deny them equal rights, you are a bigot and don’t believe in freedom.

Congrats to Obama and good luck to gay Americans everywhere. History will eventually be on your side, but as MLK said, “a right delayed is a right denied.”