There has been much debate here over the last few days/weeks/months/years about whether the president should make a full-throated endorsement of equal marriage rights now, or whether he should be allowed to "evolve" after the election.
I don't think a right answer to that question existed. I know many here disagree about that. But it doesn't matter anymore. Whether he calculated that he could do the right thing without paying a large cost politically, or simply decided that he had to do it despite the potential cost, the President has made his call. I'd have supported the more timid route, but I am prouder to support him now.
The next step is ours.
The bigots of the world would love nothing better than to be able to point to this decision as the one that lost an election. They would love nothing more than to have future politicians tremble in fear of the consequences of shaking this particular beehive. Just as we all faced down years of fearing certain loss at the ballot box if we elected a black man, only to thumb our noses at the so-called "Wilder effect", so will we have to face the same worries now until we prove them to be baseless.
So...
If you want marriage equality - win this election.
It is as simple as that.
If you want less timidity on the part of Democratic politicians - win this election.
If you want to destroy the assumption that this is a "center-right" nation - win this election.
Just think of the progress we will have made in two election cycles, demonstrating once and for all that America is ready. Ready for an African-American president, willing to re-elect him, and willing to back him up in support of civil rights for all.