exhaling with a sigh

This evening I shared dinner with a friend at one of my favorite restaurants. It was completely empty save for the two of us and the owner, Adam, who acted as chef and waiter as well. The mood tonight was already fairly somber as he had a deeply personal trauma to share with me.

As I was walking him to his apartment after the [superb!] meal, the news broke that Obama won the election. There was cheering in the streets, cars honking, etc. I couldn’t help but smile at people as I passed them while they celebrated. As a libertarian I had no horse in that race but was happy by proxy, that they felt hope for change and felt their hopes would now materialize.

I called Adam to give him the news, as he was looking forward to finding out who had won. Then, I got home and looked at the ballot measures.

Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage in the state of California, is currently passing with a wide margin. A similar proposition in Florida passed with 62%. Both blue states which voted for “change” and “hope.” A gay marriage ban in Arizona also passed with 57% and a gay adoption ban passed in Arkansas passed by another wide margin — both red states. As if there is any distinction when it comes to civil rights it would seem.

I’m glad that so many people can now be proud of voting for an African American President. It says a lot about how far we have come when it comes to race, right?

Unfortunately, the success of the gay marriage bans says more about the American people than whether they voted for or against McCain. They still don’t understand civil rights and the evil of taking them from others. Prop 8 is something I was particularly invested in opposing, and seeing the degree by which it passed was truly heartbreaking.

This energetic party in the streets, powered by the hope for positive change, was a celebration that I am not invited to because I am not heterosexual and have the audacity to want to be treated equally. My friend and I can only look on while success is declared — continue to wage war for our basic civil rights while Obama and his differently-bigoted minions give flowery speeches in front of his very own “Mission Accomplished” banner.