Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America: Barack Obama

What this inauguration means to me:

As a gay American, the inauguration of the 44th president is a beacon of hope for a community that has been neglected and torn down over the last eight years. With rights stripped away left and right, the inauguration of President Obama is a symbol that representation as a full, law-abiding, tax paying, and ‘able-to-be married’ citizen is possible—despite argument otherwise. As Obama is taking his oath of office, he will usher in a new generation focused on the inclusion of every individual regardless of race, social class or sexual orientation. It will be a new era of basic human respect—something much needed, especially after the denial of constitutional rights following the passage of Proposition 8 in California. This inauguration is a sign of new politics, a kind of politics that looks not wholly on the clout of the country but the interests of the individual.