So, America made history twice in the same day yesterday. The first bit of it was electing a black president, putting an end to the worldwide spread suspicion of ingrained and irresolvable racism. Mr Obama will take residence in the most famous house in the planet, backed up by unprecedented domestic and foreign popular support. The second bit of history isn't as grandiose, it's quite a lot more prosaic, and a whole lot more depressing: Prop 8 passed in the great state of California.

Frankly, I don't know whether to be pissed off or simply amazed, or both, at this glaring contradiction. Obama took California by storm, with a staggering margin and that must have left the opposition thinking Prop 8 didn't stand a snow ball's chance in hell. I certainly thought so. Surprise surprise, however, because the same state didn't see it fit to reject a Prop that clearly goes against much of what Obama's campaign stands for, much of what "We Can" stands for. I just don't get the contradiction.

America AND California scream for a change in office, a change in style, a change in the outlook towards the world, but California opts to stay put on traditions that spring from religious beliefs. Given the results, I have to think some of the citizens that voted for Obama also threw in their support for Prop 8. I don't know if that's how it really worked, but that's what the numbers seem to point to. So the country and California are ready for a meaningful and historical change that has taken the world by storm, yet California isn't ready to live and let live same sex couples that will only mind their own business. Sorry, I don't get it.

Evan Wolfson, gay-rights lawyer, said: "There's something deeply wrong with putting the rights of a minority up to a majority vote." Well, I respectfully disagree with Mr Wolfson. Democracy is all about that, about putting stuff up for vote, regardless of how many people are going for or against something. If we translate the gay minority to a, say, White Power minority, wouldn't it be right that ALL of us could vote for or (hopefully) against it? This is not about majorities and minorities, it's about democracy.

Because I believe democracy with all its flaws is the best political system we can hope to get, I'm not ready nor willing to put the blame on it, but on the fundamental beliefs that made people vote for Prop 8. I'm putting the blame on allowing religious beliefs to rule a civil issue, on mixing up religion with the constitution, something that actually goes against the very same constitution.

Even though my faith in democracy is as strong as ever, I find it very sad that at this day and age the right of two people to be together has to be put up for vote, regardless of sex.

California State Attorney General issued a statement that the 18,000 same-sex couples that married during this four month window will preserve their rights, that is, the existing marriages will remain valid. I can't help but think these couples are going to be a funky reminder of the giant leap forward taken four months ago, versus the ten horrible steps backward taken yesterday. I'm happy for them, though, it's pretty much the only thing to be happy about around Prop 8.