Today America woke up a step ahead, as we have elected our first African-American president. But on the same day we took a great step back, as so many states have passed virulent anti-gay propositions on ballots. One of these states, I am sad to say, is California, my current home and one-time home to Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected in American history.

Focus has sent a (weirdly truncated) clip from Milk, Gus Van Sant’s new film about Harvey’s life, to celebrate the election of Barack Obama. But watching this clip it’s hard not to realize how bittersweet this day is, as California voters look to have decided that gays do not deserve civil rights.

And by the way, the banning of gay marriage in California makes Milk the Oscar front runner, as so wisely noted by Mr. Beaks.