Oh My Heart

President Obama, in his final days in office (sob), has designated three new national monuments honoring civil rights history: The Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, the Freedom Riders National Monument, and the Reconstruction Era National Monument.

In a statement, President Obama said these monuments "tell the important stories of the citizens who helped launch the civil rights movement in Birmingham and the Freedom Riders whose bravery raised national awareness of segregation and violence. These stories are part of our shared history."

He also addressed what has become a quiet, though profoundly meaningful, part of his legacy: "From designating Stonewall National Monument, our country's first national monument honoring the LGBT movement, to recognizing the movement for women's equality through the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument, I have sought to build a more inclusive National Park System and ensure that our national parks, monuments and public lands are fully reflective of our nation's diverse history and culture."

I am already feeling weepy every time I think of him leaving office, but something about this in particular has hit me hard. I feel immensely grateful to this president for caring about people in this way. In many ways. But this is especially moving to me, in this moment. Blub.