Good Night. And Good Luck.

If you voted for this Proposition or support those who did or the sentiment they expressed, I have some questions, because, truly, I do not... understand. Why does this matter to you? What is it to you? In a time of impermanence and fly-by-night relationships, these people over here want the same chance at permanence and happiness that is your option. They don't want to deny you yours. They don't want to take anything away from you. They want what you want -- a chance to be a little less alone in the world.

Only now you are saying to them -- no. You can't have it on these terms. Maybe something similar. If they behave. If they don't cause too much trouble. You'll even give them all the same legal rights -- even as you're taking away the legal right, which they already had. A world around them, still anchored in love and marriage, and you are saying, no, you can't marry. What if somebody passed a law that said you couldn't marry?

That passage is from Keith Olbermann in his closing “Special Comment” segment tonight, inspired by the passing of California's anti-gay marriage initiative, Proposition 8. I truly appreciated Mr. Olbermann’s eloquent words but wished (still wish) these words had come out of the mouth of President-Elect Obama instead—and before November 4, 2008.

In fact I wish then-Senators Obama and Biden had been clearer—and louder—in their recently stated opposition to Prop 8. But then, how could they be? since during the VP debates Senator Biden declared, in answer to moderator Gwen Ifill’s question, that both he and Senator Obama had made clear that they absolutely do NOT, do NOT, support gay marriage. How could they explain being both against gay marriage and in support of gay people's right to marry?

I think it’s about time Queen Latifah came out. Don’t you? And Dexter King, and Mayor Willie Brown too. And all you hip-hop down-low rappers and multi-millionaire team sport athletes--give it up already. I know you're there and I'm tired of you getting to have it both ways. How I wish Luther Vandross, Barbara Jordan and Max Robinson had had in their lifetimes the courage to stand up and own up as well. There’s a lot of talk in the blogosphere these days about the need for more aggressive outreach from the gay activists to black communities and black conservative churches. I’m sure that’s true. No doubt that would help, given persistence and time.

But it’s clear to me that nothing is going to change significantly in African-American minds and hearts about gay rights and gay marriage and gay people until they are forced to confront the fact that "those people" are People They Know, including people whose lives and success they admire and aspire to emulate. I want to see these Friends of Dorothy of Color stand up and allow themselves to be counted, out in the open, out loud, where everybody, most especially their fellow People of Color, can see them.

What do you think, group? Everybody ready? Come on--on three. One.... Two......