President-elect Barack Obama prepares to deliver his acceptance speech on Tuesday, with daughters Sasha, 7 (left), Malia, 10, and wife, Michelle.

On Tuesday’s historic presidential election, Barack Obama became the first African American to be elected President of the United States. The equality-minded President-elect remembered lesbian and gay Americans in his acceptance speech, saying that his victory is “the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled.”

While Obama’s victory is celebrated, we’re saddened and disappointed to report that anti-gay ballot measures in four states – Arizona, Arkansas, Florida and California – passed. The New York Times editorial board wrote an editorial yesterday expressing their disappointment about the passage of these four measures that write discrimination against same-sex couples into state constitutions. Fortunately, voters in the state of Connecticut, rejected a ballot proposition to hold a Constitutional convention which could have ultimately banned same-sex marriage in the state.

Still, hope remains intact for a better future where all people will be granted the civil rights they deserve. Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times published an editorial reminding us that despite the fact that Proposition 8 passed in California, Obama’s victory proves that change is possible.