I was going to write about how proud I am that the United States has finally proven that it can change by electing our first black president, but this enormous leap forward is hindered by the four sour steps backwards we have also taken using the same ballots. These four sour steps backwards cast a dark shadow on the light of this monumental election, and I cannot ignore them.

Four ballot measures this year in four separate states take the amazing victory and vote for change voiced by electing Barack Obama as president and tarnish it by proving that, while we can look past race (for the most part), we can’t stop being bigots completely. The four ballot measures that I speak of all revolve around gay rights.

Three states, Arizona, California and Florida, have proposed a ban on gay marriage with Proposition 102, Proposition 8 and Amendment 2 respectively. Arkansas proposed a ban on gay couples adopting children with Initiative 1. All four ballot measures have passed with an emphatic “YES.”

With 99% of precincts reporting, the following is the vote count for each measure as of 7:30pm EST.

Apparently, the United States is not ready to accept same-sex unions or willing to support the rights of same-sex couples. I am at a loss as to why. There is no acceptable reason to be against gay rights, or the rights of gay couples.

It may be a proud day for Americans in light of the presidential election, but I pity the bigots who will never understand how to truly accept change, and how beautiful the world is when you have an open mind.