Obama listed his administration's accomplishments—ending DADT, dropping the DOMA appeal, hospital visitation rights, domestic partner benefits for the same-sex partners of federal employees—and he expanded on his "states' rights" argument about marriage equality, e.g. the federal government should leave marriage to the states and not put its "thumb on the scales" against gay couples in states where same-sex marriage is legal. He also spoke—quite movingly—about how Americans are increasingly recognizing that "gays, lesbians, and transgenders" are their children, friends, coworkers, and cousins. He concluded with: "We are moving in a direction of greater equality, and I think that's a good thing."

The president did, however, suggest that it was "appropriate" for different communities and different states to come to different conclusions about the rights of gay couples. Would any other minority group want to see their legal rights determined geographically?

Video via JMG.