Just in time for the big gay forum, Barack Obama has released a list of members of his LGBT Leadership Council. The names are as follows:
Stampp Corbin, National LGBT Liaison, Obama for America; Former Human Rights Campaign Board Member; High Tech Entrepreneur
Terje Anderson, VT, Former Executive Director for the National Association of People with AIDS
Tom Barbera, NH, Board Member, Bay State Stonewall Democrats and Vice Chair, SEIU National Lavender Caucus
Paris Barclay, CA, Emmy Award Winning Producer and Director
Michael Bauer, IL, Community Activist
Tommy Bennett, IL, Radio Personality, Tom Joyner Show
Rosalyn Bugg, CA, Community Organizer
Phil Burgess, IL, National Director, Pharmacy Affairs, Walgreens
Ed Butler, NH, State Representative
Beth Bye, CT, Connecticut State Assemblywoman
Thomas Chaderjian, IL, Stonewall Democrats
Gary Cloutier, CA, Councilmember and Vice Mayor, Vallejo
Jon Cooper, NY, Suffolk County Legislature Majority Leader
Craig Covery, MI, Councilman, Ferndale City
Terry Crow, MO, Attorney
Chris Diebel, IA, Business Leader
Karla Drenner, GA, State Representative
Bevan Dufty, CA, San Francisco Board of Supervisors
Rick Garcia, IL, Director, Equality Illinois
Carlos Garza, IA, Chair, Des Moines Pride
Richard Gordon, Supervisor, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
Nancy Greaney, NH, PFLAG New Hampshire
Greg Harris, IL, State Representative
Wendy Howell, VT, Community Organizer
Chris Hughes, IL, Founder, Facebook; Obama Campaign Director of Online Organizing
Harold Janeway, NH, State Senator, PFLAG Member
Vincent Jones, CA, Executive Director, Center for Health Justice
Nicole LeFavour, ID, State Representative
Ed Lehman, CA, Union Organizer
Robert Lilligren, MN, VP, Minneapolis City Council
Gordene Mackenzie, MA, MA Transgender Political Coalition
Sharon Malhero, IA, Activist
Timothy Patrick McCarthy, MA, Harvard University
Darryl Moore, CA, Berkeley City Council Member
Ed Murray, WA, State Senator
Nancy Nangeroni, MA, MA Transgender Political Coalition
Michael Noll, CA, Vice Mayor, Signal Hill
Renae Ogletree, IL, Community Organizer
Paul Provost, MN, Business Manager
Rebecca Prozan, CA, Chair, Alice B. Toklas Club
Nicole M. Ramirez, CA, City Commissioner, San Diego
Tonyia M. Rawles, CA, Bishop-Elect, Unity Fellowship Church Movement
Donna Red Wing, CO, Activist
Dr. Penny Robbins, IL, Reverend
Gene Robinson, NH, Bishop
Robert Ryken, IL, Attorney
Deborah Shore, IL, Commissioner, Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Stephen Smith, CA, Former DNC Member
Eric Tabor, IA, Chief of Staff, Attorney General Tom Miller
Maxim Thorne, NJ, Former Executive Director, Head Start New Jersey
Dr. Leanne Tigert, MA, Minister
Lew Todd, NY, Founding Member, Stonewall Democratic Club, Gay Activists Alliance, National Gay Task Force
Tom Tunney, IL, Chicago Alderman
David Upthegrove, WA, State Representative
Tawnee Walling, NH, Director of Seacoast Outright
Gene Webb, IL, University of Chicago
Richard A. Wilson, IL, Chair, National Lesbian and Gay Law Association
Tobias Barrington Wolff, PA, University of Pennsylvania Law School
Obama also has an "" section of his campaign website.
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“American Idol’s” Paula Abdul better watch her back, because lesbian rocker Melissa Etheridge appeared to be gunning for her job during the HRC/Logo presidential candidates forum Thursday night.
Six of the eight Democratic candidates turned out to answer questions from Etheridge, HRC President Joe Solmonese and Washington Post editorial writer Jonathan Capehart in a forum moderated by straight journalist Margaret Carlson and broadcast on Logo.
There didn’t appear to be a clear winner, as most candidates stuck to their scripts about supporting civil unions over marriage equality. There were, however, a few notable gaffes.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who boasts a strong record on gay rights issues and is arguably the most experienced of the lot, drew audible gasps from the small studio audience when he fumbled a question from Etheridge about whether homosexuality is a choice.
Initially, Richardson responded, “It’s a choice.” Etheridge interrupted him, assuming he hadn’t understood her question, but he continued, “I’m not a scientist. … I don’t like to answer definitions like that.”
The confusing reply seemed to indicate that Richardson believes homosexuality is a choice, one of the most enduring and potent slurs used against gays. It was a surprising gaffe for Richardson, who rattled off a series of ways in which he has backed gay rights during his career. But the sting of his response to that question lingers and will surely damage his credibility among gay voters, as it should.
Former Sen. John Edwards seemed to think he was running for king rather than president, when responding to a question about the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Edwards said the president could merely do away with the policy, failing to realize that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was passed by Congress, signed by President Clinton and would require congressional action to repeal. Later, Sen. Hillary Clinton, in a clear swipe at Edwards, clarified that Congress would have to get involved in order to repeal the discriminatory policy.
But Clinton wasn’t immune to problems on the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” issue. She repeated her assertion that the policy was merely “transitional” and it was time to do away with it. The problem is, the policy was never sold that way and no one ever believed in 1993 that it would be a temporary thing en route to something more “progressive” (her new favorite word). Clinton supported the policy then and opposes it now. It’s legitimate to change your opinion over time, but it’s not OK to engage in revisionist history while doing it.
Unfortunately, the event suffered from an air of unprofessionalism, prompting legitimate questions of just how seriously gay people take their presidential politics. The presence of Etheridge proved distracting and embarrassing. She openly fawned over candidates, most notably Rep. Dennis Kucinich. She urged him to “keep running until you’re elected.” Later, she asked Richardson about the beetles in Santa Fe. When Clinton took the stage last, Etheridge toughened up, telling her that Bill Clinton threw us under the bus and broke our hearts after seeking gay support in the campaign. I wonder if her environmentalist friend Al Gore fed her a few choice, tough lines for the former first lady.
But overall, Etheridge appeared to be auditioning for the Paula Abdul role on “American Idol,” warmly welcoming the candidates and openly praising them. Her behavior was wildly inappropriate for the occasion and organizers should have left the questioning to journalists. The Oprah-like set, which featured a couch and comfy chairs rather than podiums, lent a feeling of intimacy to the forum, which was a welcome touch. The problem was the set came across on TV as cheap and the crowd shockingly sparse. Next time, keep the celebrities in L.A. and the political forums in Washington.
Solmonese was tough on the candidates, asking pointed questions about marriage, including one to Edwards that nearly had him endorsing full equality. Edwards admitted it was a mistake to use his faith to justify opposition to same-sex marriage and went on to say that civil unions stop short of full equality. But he concluded with the contradictory and inevitable, “I do not support same-sex marriage.” He’s still on his “journey.” And Edwards couldn’t resist a few jabs at Ann Coulter, who has proven a cash cow for his campaign. The remarks were irrelevant and a transparent effort at tossing red meat to the crowd, which dutifully applauded.
Those are some top-of-mind observations. Check the Blade site throughout the week for updated reaction and analysis of all that transpired tonight.
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The mainstream news sources played the debate with straightforward accounts. Bill Richardson’s remarks that homosexuality is a choice received straightforward but in-depth reporting from most sources.
The use of quotes in the stories shows that yes, everyone supports civil unions and everyone wants to get rid of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’
Most reports noticed that the evening’s swoons were aimed at Dennis Kucinich, with the Washington Post calling the evening ‘a love fest’ for him.
The stories varied in the gay activists whom they quoted in articles. David Mixner addressed the forum in the Post and Matt Foreman of the Task Force was quoted in the LA Times.
Mainstream news sources:
‘’ - USA Today
- Time
‘ - CNN
‘ - Washington Post
‘’ (with audio) - NPR
‘’ - Los Angeles Times
‘’ - BBC News
‘’ - New York Times
‘’ - The Huffington Post
Joe.My.God does an amazing job of calling out the ‘dodgeballs’ of the night in his liveblogging. Lin Farley gives a heart-wrenching account of how hurt she is by the vague answers given. Pam Spaulding thinks that Clinton knows that deciding marriage at the state-level doesn’t work. Log Cabin Gay Patriot liked Richardson the best. The reactions are mixed, so check them out for yourself.
Blogger reactions:
Lin Farley: ‘’ - The Huffington Post
‘’ - Pam’s House Blend
Lane Hudson and Katharine Zaleski: ‘’ - The Huffington Post
‘’ - Towleroad
‘’ - The Politico
‘’ - Joe.My.God.
‘’ - GayPatriot
‘’ - Keith Boykin
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Remember when Roseanne got raked over the coals by those of us in the âgay communityâ for saying gays are selfish?
âNever once in my 54 years have I ever once heard a gay or lesbian person whoâs politically active say one thing about anything that was not about them. They donât care about minimum wage, they donât care about any other group other than their own self because you know, some people say being gay and lesbian is a totally narcissistic thing and sometimes I wonder,â she said in April on a radio show she co-hosts.
Sheâs got a point, I think. And itâs not a new one, but one that, to me, was illuminated for two hours last night.
I watched the HRC/Logo Democratic presidential debate and truly listened to each candidate. Iâve watched other debates before, and confess Iâd often get bored and tune out. They all have stock answers and I could read the summary in the newspaper the next day anyway.
But last nightâs frank discussion of gay issues, issues that directly affect me, was exciting. Some tough questions â on marriage equality, "Donât Ask, Donât Tell," hate crimes and job protections â were asked. I think we were treated to some new insight into not only these peopleâs stances on gay issues, but also into their characters and personalities.
The candidates each had their âgayâ message planned and delivered it regardless of the question, like any other debate. But there were also some very revealing truths unveiled.
Didnât you just cringe when New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson essentially said being gay is a choice? Ouch. But, yes, he does have a strong track record for fighting for us as he quickly pointed out. And, you know, for some of us, it is a choice.
Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois plugging himself talking to black ministers about homophobia in the black church, and how this needs to be overcome as one way to stem the tide of the high number of AIDS cases among African Americans, was interesting and powerful.
I knew Rep. Dennis Kucinich, from the heartland of Ohio, was the perfect candidate because, like Washington Post editorial writer Jonathan Capehart noted, thereâs nothing we could ask for that he wouldnât support. His going on about love and interconnectedness of the nation was nice to hear and see, if not a bit goofy and over the top. It would be fascinating to have him as the person in charge of this country.
Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York taking on Melissa Etheridgeâs question about gays being thrown âunder the busâ during her husbandâs administration made for a good TV moment. But Hillary Clinton held her own and even faced a couple of tough questions about gay marriage from HRC President Joe Solmonese, although some say Clinton is his top pick to be the Democratic presidential candidate.
Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, well, he really did look uncomfortable around gay people (although his hair was perfect), even after denying he ever said such a thing. I wish him well on his "journey." We all have to take them. Donât think his will end at the White House, though.
Former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel got his 15 minutes, and that was fair. His attacks on the other candidates brought some drama.
But it was during the post-debate discussion where I heard the most interesting question. How come nobody talked about the war in Iraq, the most pressing issue facing our entire country, whether you are gay or straight?
The only person who brought the hot mess of a war up in any serious way was Kucinich, who noted how he opposed the war years ago when nobody agreed with him. And now the majority of the country is on his side.
Each candidate said they support ending DADT, which, in some ways, impacts the war in Iraq. The firing of gay Arabic linguists is the most notable.
But I wonder: If we as LGBT people, a marginalized group, canât incorporate even a couple questions into this âhistoricâ debate that touch other issues facing the marginalized within our own community â the poor, the elderly, the youth â how can we expect to be considered real team players in the fight for equality for everyone?
Truth is, we canât.
Others will argue that last nightâs debate was simply to talk about LGBT topics. We can hear about what the candidates think on the war, the economy, poverty, education, gas prices, stem cell research, etc., during the other mainstream debates. Yes, this is true. But itâs true all these topics are also queer.
Health care for all was brought up, thankfully, because this is an issue that not only affects people living with HIV and AIDS, but everyone. The discussions on medicinal marijuana were also informative to me.
Last night we had a national forum to try to erase the stereotype â however true or false it may be â that all we care about is ourselves and are focused on just gay marriage or DADT.
Transgender issues were touched on, which definitely needed to be â but would this have happened if Susan Stanton hadnât made national headlines after being fired as the city manager of Largo, Fla., for being transgender?
I know plenty of queer people who work on issues facing us other than gay marriage and ENDA, although these issues are important. But even they say those in charge of the âgay movementâ are narrowly focused, and they distance themselves from such groups as the HRC. This is just one area of division within this thing we dub the gay community.
I believe we all took a step forward last night. We all learned a lot. We may even have a better idea who we want to vote for based on how the candidates stand on issues that directly affect us as gay Americans.
But as we gain more political clout, letâs use that clout to raise the many other issues that face us as queers and speak to the interconnectedness that Kucinich so cheerfully, and eloquently, spoke about.
Heâs a dreamer. But if thereâs anything I know about gay people, and this may be a stereotype, too â we like to dream. And dream big.
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