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 referencing the 1969 Stonewall riots against police harassment by patrons the historic New York City gay bar, classing them as a civil rights watershed along with key moments in the struggles for women and blacks.

It is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began.  For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts.  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.  

The crowd on the  National Mall erupted in applause. It was a line that would never have been uttered in an inaugural address before—not even in Obama's first, since he changed his position to become the first president to support gay marriage just last year.

Comments From FACEBOOK

What does the President's inclusion of the GL community mean to you? How do you feel today?

• Go Out Loud: We are so proud to be from Massachusetts, the first marriage equality state. Yesterday, Obama raised the bar. These next four years have the potential to become even more historic than the last. It's up to every one of us to keep feeding the momentum and build stronger communities together. We can do this. It's time to usher in the new era of modern equality.
  
  

• Alan Hume: His *evolving* 3 months before the election? mmmkay. Obama: “I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now, for me as a Christian — for me — for me as a Christian, it is also a sacred union. God’s in the mix.” - April 17, 2008, while running for president, defining marriage at the Saddleback Presidential Forum.
  
  

• Kathy Godbout: Hey, I "evolved" so I KNOW it happens. For me, it was pretty quick b/c I have a gay son who responded when I asked why not civil unions. He looked me in the eye and said, "It's not enough, Mom, it's not enough." But, I LOVE that kid so for me, it was easy. For others it takes education and that is what I do, I EDUCATE as manyn as I can to the difference. I have no problem with the president evolving especially since he is continuing the work.
  
  

• Emmer Ised: He has to to toddle the line. He like most people are conflicted with words. Take those separately. (Man +woman) (sacred), (Gods in the mix) separately you can see that the last two can apply to any kind of marriage especially gay marriage the first described his idea of plain marriage. Just taking a broad look at it.
  
  

• Sue O'Connell: Our LGBT community is now officially recognized and permanently etched into the tablet of our nation's civil rights victories. A moment to reflect and then get back to work.

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