Letter from the President

Yesterday, I got an email from the President. It was rather personal. He wrote:

Erwin --

This weekend, our family will join millions of others in celebrating America. We will enjoy the glow of fireworks, the taste of barbeque, and the company of good friends. As we all celebrate this weekend, let's also remember the remarkable story that led to this day.

Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, our nation was born when a courageous group of patriots pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the proposition that all of us were created equal.

Equal. At this point my smile retracted. Warm and fuzzy feelings got cold and pointed. I read on.

Our country began as a unique experiment in liberty -- a bold, evolving quest to achieve a more perfect union. And in every generation, another courageous group of patriots has taken us one step closer to fully realizing the dream our founders enshrined on that great day.

Today, all Americans have a hard-fought birthright to a freedom which enables each of us, no matter our views or background, to help set our nation's course. America's greatness has always depended on her citizens embracing that freedom -- and fulfilling the duty that comes with it.

As free people, we must each take the challenges and opportunities that face this nation as our own. As long as some Americans still must struggle, none of us can be fully content.

As long as some Americans still must struggle, none of us can be fully content. Ah, smile back, feeling warm and fuzzy again. So he is aware of my second class status as a gay immigrant of color. He does care about LGBT individuals and families. He knows about our struggles and he is not fully content. He said so at the party he threw for us at the White House. It’s all code you see.

And as America comes ever closer to achieving the perfect Union our founders dreamed, that triumph -- that pride -- belongs to all of us.

Look, he and the Dems do have a plan, a strategy that will bring the nation closer to our founding fathers’ belief that all are created equal and have unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The president and all the elected officials who are grateful for our loyalty, votes and money will secure us gays the equality that is our right. Triumph. Pride. Read between the lines!

So today is a day to reflect on our independence, and the sacrifice of our troops standing in harm's way to preserve and protect it.

Yes, he's thinking about the more than 65,000 gay Americans serving on active duty, 1 million gay veterans, 13,000 women and men discharged under DADT and 282 since he took office.

It is a day to celebrate all that America is. And today is a time to aspire toward all we can still become.

With very best wishes,
President Barack Obama
July 4th, 2009

Thank you Mr. President. I do continue to aspire - to dream - as do millions of other LGBT. And I will hang on to your letter along with your campaign ideals, inspiring speeches and big promises.

Affectionately,
Erwin