Tonight, for the first time in history, six of the Democratic presidential candidates will participate in a national forum on GLBT issues before a live television audience. Jointly sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and LOGO Television, The Visible Vote '08 will air live on MTV Networks' Logo at 9:00 PM ET/ 6:00PM PT and on the web here. The leading Republican candidates were invited to participate, but only one even bothered to respond -- and that was to tell us he had a scheduling conflict.
The candidates' views on the major GLBT issues of our time are well established. None of the leading candidates are for marriage equality, and all are for repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," for allowing same sex couples to be granted immigration visas, and for finally passing a federal Hate Crimes law. But, we've only just scratched the surface. What exactly is it about a person's religion that prevents him or her from being for marriage equality? How would they react if a staff member told them they were transgender and going through a transition? Being for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is a positive step but what is your precise policy and political plan to make that a reality?
This live, televised forum offers a chance to explore the evolution of these candidates' beliefs and engage them in a conversation rooted in real specifics -- not rhetoric.
The existence of the forum represents great progress in political discourse. Just three years ago, gay issues were used to divide and distract the American electorate. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry shied from acknowledging his well-established support for the GLBT community. Thirteen states placed same-sex marriage bans on the ballot. While most pollsters agree that the ballot measure in Ohio -- the state that gave George Bush a second term -- didn't impact voter turnout, we all agree that GLBT Americans were used as a political football.
Fortunately, 2008 is not 2004. Americans want real, honest answers about the state of this country, and are tired of political tactics designed to divide the electorate. The candidates who come across as backward looking, intolerant, discriminatory and political will lose this election.
Public support for GLBT equality is at an all time high. According to a recent Gallup poll, support for same-sex marriage (46 percent) has nearly doubled over the last decade, and a whopping 89 percent say gays and lesbians should have equal opportunities in the workplace. Today, 60 percent of Americans support same-sex marriages or civil unions, as opposed to 53 percent in late 2004, according to CBS News and The New York Times. And, this week's Newsweek poll showed that 68 percent of Americans believe gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military.
Outside of Washington, America is moving forward. On June 1st, New Hampshire became the fourth state to legalize civil unions. In describing how the new law was consistent with the state's anti-discrimination tradition, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch said the law would further "strengthen New Hampshire families." Since last November, several states often viewed as moderate to conservative, such as Iowa and Oregon, have enacted pro-equality legislation, and Arkansas and Indiana have beaten back attempts to discriminate against GLBT people. For the first time ever, a majority of the most successful companies in the country offer domestic partner benefits to the same-sex partners of their employees. These 264 Fortune 500 companies collectively employ more than 20 million people.
Tonight's forum reflects that progress, and Democrats vying for their party's nomination aren't shrinking away from the questions and concerns of the GLBT community. In fact, it would be a political liability to do so. A study released yesterday by Community Marketing, Inc. reports that 92.5 percent of gay men and 91 percent of lesbians voted in the 2004 election. Eighty-four percent and 78 percent, respectively, voted in the mid-term elections. Gay and lesbian Americans are a political "constituency," not just a political "issue" that must be handled with care.
In the audience tonight will be GLBT Americans who are leading the way toward equality, including former Marine Sgt. Eric Alva, the first American soldier to be wounded in the Iraq War when he stepped on a landmine and lost his leg. Eric, a gay American, is leading the Human Rights Campaign's "Legacy of Service" tour, a national tour aimed at the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Also joining will be Antonio Agnone, a former explosives officer in the Marine Corps who is credited for saving the lives of numerous fellow soldiers and civilians. After being awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Agnone left the Marines because Don't Ask, Don't Tell would prohibit his partner from being notified or recognized by the U.S. military if Agnone were injured or killed while in combat. Susan Stanton, the former city manager of Largo, Florida, will also be in attendance. Stanton became the subject of national and international media attention in February 2007 after disclosing that she was pursuing sex reassignment, leading Largo city commissioners to initiate the process of ending her contract as city manager and firing her.
These are just a few of the millions of Americans looking for their next president to lead the country toward equality. And, the candidates participating in the forum should take note that politically "cautious" non-answers won't do. Tonight's presidential forum is more than a political questionnaire. It's an opportunity for frank discussion, not stock answers. And it's a major landmark in the journey toward full equality for GLBT Americans.