The planes, trains and buses have returned the march weary-travelers back to their universities and hometowns. The Capitol lawn is free from dense crowds chanting for their freedom. The president is back in the White House fighting the right wing after his command performance at the Human Rights Campaign dinner. Washington this past weekend was ground zero for a historic weekend for the LGBT community. A confluence of events will make Coming Out Day Weekend 2009 one to remember.

No matter if you were marching or listening to the president, you will not soon forget this weekend. For all involved, the hard work continues but now with an influx of new exciting young energy and additional leadership. For years at our banquets and benefits most speeches were laced in some form with an appeal to leave the world a better place for LGBT youth. What we have to realize is that those very youth have grown up and are eager to bring new ideas, fresh approaches, new energy and new excitement to an embattled but proud community.

What are they like? What can we expect from them?

Having spent a reasonable amount of time with them over the last months, I can safely say we are in extraordinarily good hands. The skills and talents of Robin McGehee and Kip Williams (photograph) are some of the best that have surfaced in decades. I can honestly say I learned a great deal from this duo and their steering committee. You can indeed teach an old dog new tricks! Those skills are matched by a stunning set of values and principles. Their vision of full equality now is a powerful one. Those of us who have seen so many years of empty promises from our allies can only be renewed with their passion and commitment.

Now the hard work continues on all fronts. Already there are in place over 200 committees operating in Congressional districts. The hope is to have committees in all of them soon. Their determination is fearless but their operating style is filled with love and compassion. I watched with fascination as they hammered out an issue with a dear friend of mine with whom I have worked successfully for years. My counterpart yielded out of respect and the ideas put forth by this new team in the community did indeed make everything stronger and better. I couldn't stop smiling. My friend and I knew that perhaps some new and better ways of operating were not only possible but worthy.

What I love about the team is their generosity of spirit and their desire to take the Obama challenge of "Yes We Can" and make it a reality. Maybe they can turn the tide with our beloved president and the chant can become "Yes, You Will."

Photograph taken by Perry Bindelglass