At the time of this writing, Obama just gave his speech claiming victory in the 2008 election and I am in tears. When he spoke about the 106 year old woman in Atlanta casting her ballot and all that has happened in her lifetime, I lost it. To think about how much our nation has changed in a century is amazing. I’m crying because Obama truly is the image of hope. It’s about how far you can come and what you can overcome. People don’t understand why it’s an issue that he’s black. For everyone who considers themselves African-American, it is significant. If it were an Asian man elected or even a woman, it would be significant. I think about my life as a gay man and all that my community has endured for decades before me. From before Stonewall where people could be arrested for being who they are and up until now where people simply cast a vote so that I cannot marry someone I love. To think of and be reminded of all that I’ve had to endure and all that anyone has had to endure is to make us give pause and remember that we are strong. That we can go through the most horrific of incidents and the most challenging life experiences and still be here. There were times when it was difficult just to wake up and keep going through the day being tortured by everyone around me but my life has changed and it will continue to do so. I know that it will change for the better. For us all.