Obama Wins! ... Equality for All?

I can't say how joyful I am to know that Barack Hussein Obama will be our next president! WAHOO!! I thought Sen. McCain gave a gracious concession speech, and President-Elect Obama promised to work with him and listen especially to those he disagreed with. What a stark change from 8 years of boneheaded-cowboy posturing! "Unreal" America is back, and change is uh-coming.

And still, there is much work to be done, in the area of human rights, healthcare, the economy, energy, campaign finance reform... the list goes on. We have hope in what we cannot yet see, save for in our hearts. May we have the wherewithall to persevere through not just a nearly two-year long presidentinal campaign, but a four year presidency, seeking justice, loving mercy and walking humbly together for a more peaceful world.

There is also a part of me that is a little sad. The returns for California's Prop 8, which would take away the right to marry for those marrying a person of the same gender, show it passing 52-48%, or 400,000 votes difference. Other states, including Florida, Arkansas and Arizona, also passed initiatives to limit the rights of gay persons. The ban of gay marriage is even more disheartening with the news that hate crimes against gays have risen this past year by 5.5%.

Our nation was founded on the guarantee and protection of rights. We are taking a step backward by denying others rights we hetereosexuals enjoy. The state takes the rights of people away only when they do something wrong. What have our GLBT friends done wrong? Too often we act as a nation of privilege, rather than one of equality.

Hateful discrimination is unfair. It is unjust. It is wrong.

Today we mourn. Tomorrow we cry out and begin the hard work of proclaiming a peaceful message of equality for all, no matter your gender, ethnicity, age, immigration status or sexual orientation.

On this day we celebrate the unprecedented election of the first non-white, non-British, Irish or German descent leader ever elected to the U.S.'s highest office. And we also know that this is just the beginning.