“Mister Speaker, the President of the United States”
That is the introduction given to a President when he or she enters the joint session of Congress for the State of the Union. Whenever this happens, no matter who is in office, I always get emotional.
Perhaps it is because the President as our leader symbolizes the promise of America- a nation of equals, a nation of progress, and a nation of hope. Or maybe it’s because the President sets the tone for our country. No matter what political party you belong to, it’s hard to deny the moral authority and power of the President of The United States.
So when last Wednesday President Barack Obama, the leader of the free world, came out of the political closet to announce his unequivocal support for marriage equality, the world stood still for just a quick second as the moral power of the US Presidency was in full display. This historic moment will forever be remembered as the day the United States began a path toward full inclusion, toward full equality. The Founding Fathers and Founding Mothers must be looking down upon our nation smiling and proud of how this nation has evolved.
The next State of the Union address will be held in January 2013 and we can only hope and pray that our current President will be the one delivering the speech since his opponent does not share this vision of inclusion for America. In fact, Mitt Romney is as anti-equality as any right-winger can be. All Mitt has to show for his gay rights record is how he bullied a gay kid in high school and how he fought like hell (and lost) to stop gay marriage in Massachusetts. This is nothing to be proud of if you ask me. President Obama is leading us forward on a bridge to the future; a President Romney would take our nation backwards toward failure.
I always suspected that President Obama’s evolution would bring him to a place of acceptance for same-sex marriage rights. His record on gay and lesbian equality has been exemplary- from appointing openly gay judges to repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell”, to refusing to defend the unconstitutional so-called Defense of Marriage Act, the President has come through. It was once said that Bill Clinton was America’s first black president due to his affinity and understanding of the needs of African- Americans. Using this metaphor, we can certainly say that President Obama is our first gay president- he understands our struggles, he leads by example, he is honest about his struggle with accepting same-sex marriage. President Obama has done more for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Americans than any president in history.
I frankly was surprised that President Obama came out with this statement before the election. It is a risky move especially given some of the swing states he will most surely need to win reelection. I am a bit nervous about this; on the other hand, I am always amazed by the American people. Their quest for fairness and equality usually rules the day. Even those who don’t agree with the President have to give him credit for taking a stand and speaking his mind despite the potential political implications of his position. This type of political bravery is a trait so often absent from our leaders. Mitt Romney would never take such a risk, not the least of which, he can’t seem to hold a position long enough to have a conviction. The one thing Americans despise most in their leaders are flip-floppers.
The Presidents’ words have reverberated around the world- from accolades in Europe where many countries, including deeply Catholic ones like Spain, have adopted marriage equality, to disdain from Muslim countries where gays and lesbians could never dream of being married, in fact they can’t even be known as a couple or they will be tortured or killed.
This is why the President’s position is so important. Will America continue to be the moral leader of the world as it has in the struggle for minority rights and for women’s rights? Are we a nation where all citizens are equal, where they enjoy all the rights and liberties of citizenship, or are we a nation where you can lose your job, be beaten or killed simply because of whom you love?
The world is changing. The Arab Spring awakened a spirit of democracy in the Middle East. African-Americans in the United States now have the same opportunity and rights as others. Women serve in the highest levels of government and in most religious denominations. So too the struggle for LGBT rights is spreading throughout the civilized world. And in our country, the day when my marriage to my husband Harry will be afforded the same respect as those of my straight friends is closer than ever, due in part, to one brave and courageous statement by the President of the United States.
Hail to the Chief!
