January 19 in the United States is Martin Luther King Day.

Wow.

This
year, it’s particularly significant because it feels like all the fight
for Civil Rights is finally coming to its reward. Tomorrow, less than
24 hours away, Barack Obama will become my nation’s first African
American President.
What would MLK say?  What would he do?

MLK dared to dream the dream, Obama is daring to live it.

I
think that MLK would be proud, and yet he would say that we still have
a long way to go.  Why?  Because Until we can accept that NOT only
those who are of different races should be treated equally – but also
those of different sexual orientation – in the eyes of the law – we are
still not done.

So, I remind everyone
that the fight is not over, the fight is not done.  We need to take a
deep breath, be happy for a moment, and then go to work.  We must surge
forward with the rights for our Gay and Lesbian individuals – and say
that if they want to have a union (even a civil one) they should be
able to do so – and have equal rights where healthcare, home buying,
and death benefits are concerned.   We cannot stop, for this is America
– and true Equality for All is still for some just a Dream.

And
while the fight is not over, we have made a baby step… And that Baby
step Is worth Celebrating.  I’ll be at the Inauguration Party here in
Berlin Tomorrow, cheering for our new President, Our Dream’s Partial
Fulfillment, and encouraging that dream for those who are still not
treated equally.