Gay is not Black

Obama tried to make the claim that he knows what it's like to be ostracized as a gay person because he's black and has faced discrimination. Fair enough, to a point.

Here's the difference: black children who experience bigotry can come home to black parents who understand what it's like and who can relate and comfort. That's not the case with gay kids who know they are different and who hide their difference from mom and dad for fear of losing their love. That's a barren loneliness. That's why so many gay kids are more at risk for depression and suicide than their straight cohorts. And it's why thoughtful adults, like Obama, should not relegate gays to a second class status in our society. It sends a message: gay is not good enough.