How long, if ever, do you think it will be until the U.S. has a gay president?

Although we can’t equate civil rights movements with each other precisely, they may offer some means of comparison. African Americans weren’t legally recognized as “citizens,” at least nominally, until the fourteenth amendment – about 150 years ago. Women weren’t until about 80 years ago when they were provided the right to vote. Arguably, homosexuals weren’t until 2003 when Lawrence v. Texas made it illegal to prosecute homosexual activity – but the fact that over half of the states in the U.S. ban same-sex marriage constitutionally, and DOMA is in effect federally for now, it’s debatable whether homosexuality is provided full equal legal recognition along with heterosexuality.

One thing that presidents have had in common almost universally is (1) public adherence to some form of religion, Christianity specifically, and (2) a legal family relationship. Given how recently any legal recognition of the protection of homosexuals has been underway in the U.S., and that there are still social and legal barriers to full participation in place that have been essential to the presidential identity, do you think it’s remotely possible to have a gay president, or even a viable gay presidential candidate, in our lifetime? Why or why not?