When Ricky Met Barack (UPDATE)

At this moment in our country's history, there's no better way to ensure equality for all Americans than to repeal (not just not defend) the Defense of Marriage Act. So hearing that President Obama plans to do just that if elected to a second term -- he announced it at the Ricky Martin-led fundraiser last night at the Rubin Museum in Chelsea -- I can't help but feel 2008 hopeful all over again. Barack Obama may not be the first gay president. But he's certainly the first gay-friendly president to follow a Hippocratic Oath when it comes to LGBT citizens. (Never do harm to anyone.) And we know we can trust him now. I mean, really: what kind of person would lie to Ricky Martin?

UPDATE: Looks like CNN jumped the gun on this one. Apparently when pressed further if he would fight to repeal DOMA, Obama would only say, "Congress is clearly on notice that I think it’s a bad idea." Still, a new New York Times/CBS News poll finds that 67 percent said they thought that Obama announced support for marriage equality “mostly for political reasons,” while 24 percent said it was “mostly because he thinks it is right.” Personally, I find this shocking. People who watch a lot of television may think we live in a post-gay world, But a sitting president announcing support for virtually anything pro-gay is still enormously rare -- did anyone else besides Bill "the so-called Judas" Clinton? -- and it's incredibly naive for those respondents to think this won't be used to get effect against the president as the campaign gets tighter.

"I want everyone treated fairly in this country. We have never gone wrong when we've extended rights and responsibilities to everybody," he said, drawing big applause. "That doesn't weaken families, that strengthens families."