Photo credit: Huffingtonpost.com (accessed 5/9/12)
It gave me chills to hear President Obama say that he personally affirms the idea that same sex couples should be able to get married. To have someone in such an influential political position recognize the importance of LGBT equal rights gives credence to the idea. President Obama has been the strongest presidential ally to the LGBT community. During his current term, the President struck down Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and instructed the Department of Justice to stop enforcing the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act. Within the last few years, there has been such a strong shift in public opinion toward acceptance of the LGBT community. To have the President of the United States acknowledge that civil unions are not the same as marriage is truly historic. President Obama’s genuine realization that members of the LGBT community deserve legitimacy, dignity, and recognition is refreshing. I could not have envisioned such rapid progress in the perception of LGBT rights. It makes me hopeful.
-Monica
