President Obama's second inaugural address ranks as one of the most inclusive national speeches in American history, particularly for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people.
At several points during the speech, Obama referenced gay rights, going out of his way to equate them to civil rights, and the struggle for them as part of a long and progressive tradition of inclusion and acceptance. That makes Obama the first American president to mention gay rights in an inaugural address.
"We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths -- that all of us are created equal -- is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth," Obama said.
Seneca Falls, N.Y. was the location of the first women's rights convention in the Western world, in 1848. Selma refers to Selma, Ala., the site of a bloody clash between white supremacists and peaceful protesters during a civil rights march in 1965.
The Stonewall riots in 1969 were a response by Manhattan's gay and lesbian community against police raids and harassment, and they sparked the modern gay rights movement.
Obama's mention of the three locations in succession -- as part of a group -- draws a solid line connecting women's rights, civil rights for racial minorities and gay rights, and portrays the struggles as part of a continuum, building upon one another.
Later in the speech, Obama mentioned same-sex marriage, in the middle of a litany of wrongs that needed to be righted.
After advocating for equal pay for women, and before mentioning voting rights, immigration reform and gun control, Obama said, "Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law -- for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well."
In 2012, Obama became the first American president to openly support same-sex marriage. He also oversaw the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," a policy that prevented gays and lesbians from serving openly in the U.S. military.
His status as the first African-American president makes his commitment to gay rights even more influential than it might otherwise be. Historically, racial minorities in the United States have been slower to accept homosexuality or same-sex marriage than whites, and some black civil rights leaders bristle at comparisons between the movements.
But surveys show support for same-sex marriage among African-Americans increased by 18 percent after Obama's 2012 announcement, a shift that resulted in a majority of African-Americans -- 59 percent -- supporting same-sex marriage.
Obama still has an uphill battle over many contentious issues in his second term, including gay rights, so it remains to be seen how much time and effort he will dedicate to the cause. But even just mentioning the struggles of LGBT Americans carries plenty of weight coming from a sitting president.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
