What about the gays, Obie?

I just re-watched Barack Obama's election night victory speech and the same thing stood out to me today as it did on November 4, 2008 when I watched it live.

Obama made mention of the "young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled" as not being merely "a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states" but, as Obama said, "[w]e are, and always will be, the United States of America."

It was a great speech. And that passage was particularly memorable.

But one thing stands out to me . . . one of these things is not like the others. In the list of "people" that make up the United States of America, there is only one in which Obama believes should be treated differently than the others.

Gays.

Obama is against gay marriage: "Personally, I do believe that marriage is between a man and a woman."

But he's also said that the U.S. should recognize gays "with full equality under the law."

I guess that's full equality under the law except for marriage.

He does support civil unions, having said that they would suffice to protect partners' rights.

Didn't we try "separate but equal" once?