I got a little teary eyed as the news broke and we learned President Obama officially went on record to endorse same-sex marriage/marriage equality. Another historic moment experienced in my lifetime. Another step on the march toward full equality as citizens in our nation for queer people.
A kiss from my president to my queer self.
A kiss from my president to my queer self.
As someone who has worked for twenty plus years in public relations, including a stint as a communications director for an elected official, I know first hand the discussions, the vetting, the weighing of how/if/when to take controversial positions on polarizing, controversial topics. But I scoff at the cynics who see this as purely a political move. Yes, we are in an election year, and yes that had, HAD, to be taken into account.
But I believe Barack Obama - the person - has fully supported and believed in equal rights for queer people for many years. Those are the values he and his wife are instilling/have instilled in their children after all. I believe he came to a point personally AND politically where his personal beliefs needed to be aligned with his very public role as President. No matter the risk. Because it simply was the right thing to do. It's yet to be seen if this hurts or helps his reelection bid.
But I believe Barack Obama - the person - has fully supported and believed in equal rights for queer people for many years. Those are the values he and his wife are instilling/have instilled in their children after all. I believe he came to a point personally AND politically where his personal beliefs needed to be aligned with his very public role as President. No matter the risk. Because it simply was the right thing to do. It's yet to be seen if this hurts or helps his reelection bid.
Yes, there are nuances to better understand. Will he now openly work to overturn DOMA? I hope so. Will he champion legislation to make same-sex marriage legal everywhere? I hope so. But whatever happens know this: that endorsement is a huge, historic, important next step that transcends President Obama. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr said, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but It bends toward justice." Yes it does. Yes it will.
Earlier today I imagined, as the news spread, millions of queer people across this country feeling a little lighter, a little more valued and accepted. I imagined closeted people cracking open that oppressive door and considering, "Maybe I can, now." I imagined more queer people kissing in public. Just because. And most important, I imagined queer and questioning youth envisioning a more open and accepting future awaiting them.
My tears came when I took this all in, took in what it means to be queer in this country under a president who says, "You matter. Your rights count."
So this is so much more than endorsement of same sex marriage. It is endorsement of being queer, in all its beautiful forms.
Thank you, President Obama. Again and again and again.
Some highlights from the interwebs:
The endorsement
The inspirational image to share
For the rainbow inclined
The Hillary meme (Go Hillary in 2016!)
And best of all, a brand new meme to celebrate (you MUST click to see the gifs. Hilarious.)
