VIDEO & PHOTOS: Obama's Acceptance Speech Resonates with the Castro

Last night, our neighborhood closed off Castro Street between Market Street and 18th in preparation for an election night celebration. I think most of us were not sure of an Obama victory, but we were fortunate enough to be afforded more than that. We celebrated with our neighbors wins as important as Obama's re-election, Massachusetts's Elizabeth Warren securing her Senate seat, Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin as the first lesbian and openly gay Senator, Indiana's Joe Donnelly defeating Richard Mourdock (aka pregnancy from rape is "something God intended") in addition to other representative wins. And most importantly, wins with marriage equality in Maryland and Maine by popular vote. Castro Street was a-buzz with people celebrating the wins tonight. In presidential candidate Mitt Romney's concession speech, he thanked his family and his supporters. In incumbent President Obama's acceptance speech he did the same of his family and supporters, and also spoke of his accomplishments and his moving forward inclduing. President Obama said that,

"Each of us has deeply held beliefs. And when we go through tough times, when we make big decisions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy. That won't change after tonight, and it shouldn't. These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty. We can never forget that as we speak people in distant nations are risking their lives right now just for a chance to argue about the issues that matter, the chance to cast their ballots like we did today. But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America's future. We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have access to the best schools and the best teachers. A country that lives up to its legacy as the global leader in technology and discovery and innovation, with all the good jobs and new businesses that follow. We want our children to live in an America that isn't burdened by debt, that isn't weakened by inequality, that isn't threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet. We want to pass on a country that's safe and respected and admired around the world, a nation that is defended by the strongest military on earth and the best troops this -- this world has ever known. But also a country that moves with confidence beyond this time of war, to shape a peace that is built on the promise of freedom and dignity for every human being. ... Now, we will disagree, sometimes fiercely, about how to get there. As it has for more than two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts. It's not always a straight line. It's not always a smooth path. By itself, the recognition that we have common hopes and dreams won't end all the gridlock or solve all our problems or substitute for the painstaking work of building consensus and making the difficult compromises needed to move this country forward. But that common bond is where we must begin. Our economy is recovering. A decade of war is ending. A long campaign is now over. And whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you, I have learned from you, and you've made me a better president. And with your stories and your struggles, I return to the White House more determined and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do and the future that lies ahead. ... You elected us to focus on your jobs, not ours. And in the coming weeks and months, I am looking forward to reaching out and working with leaders of both parties to meet the challenges we can only solve together. Reducing our deficit. Reforming our tax code. Fixing our immigration system. Freeing ourselves from foreign oil. We’ve got more work to do. But that doesn’t mean your work is done. The role of citizens in our Democracy does not end with your vote. America’s never been about what can be done for us. It’s about what can be done by us together through the hard and frustrating, but necessary work of self-government. That’s the principle we were founded on.

His entire speech was filled with cheers and applause from the crowds in Chicago and the people at The Mix in the Castro. On the Mix's TVs, when Obama was projected to win a state, the energy was electric. The crowd would erupt in cheers. It was also as electric hearing the jeers and boos for electoral votes won by Mitt Romney. In the video below, Scott Wiener and gay marriage advocates (and husbands) Stewart and John, expound on the ramifications of yesterday's elections. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWdpPYNbsRs