Before President Barack Obama accepted
his party's nomination at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on
Thursday, a video highlighting his support for gay rights was played.
In the 90-second video, Obama is seen
speaking at a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) fundraiser.
“My expectation is that when you look
back on these years you will see a time in which we put a stop to
discrimination against gays and lesbians. You will see a time in
which we as nation finally recognize relationships between two men or
two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a
man and a woman. You'll see a nation that is valuing and cherishing
these families as we build a more perfect union.”
“Where no matter what you look like
or where you come from or who you love you can dream big dreams.”
(The video is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
In his address to delegates, Obama
chided lawmakers opposed to gay nuptials.
“If you turn away now – if you buy
into the cynicism that the change we fought for isn't possible …
well, change will not happen. If you give up on the idea that your
voice can make a difference, then other voices will fill the void:
lobbyists and special interests; the people with the $10 million
checks who are trying to buy this election and those who are making
it harder for you to vote; Washington politicians who want to decide
who you can marry, or control health care choices that women should
make for themselves.”
He also included gay men and lesbians
in a mention about political scapegoats: “We don't think government
can solve all our problems. But we don't think that government is
the source of all our problems – any more than are welfare
recipients, or corporations, or unions, or immigrants, or gays, or
any other group we're told to blame for our troubles.”