Democratic Convention Holds Promise for LGBT Community

A full 8% of the more than 4,400 Democratic delegates gathering in Denver this week are openly LGBT.

As the crowd at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver begins cheering for itself and its candidates, LGBT delegates’ applause will be heard louder than ever. A solid 8% of the total delegate population has self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, with that number expected to increase once all of the delegates arrive.

Of the more than 4,400 delegates at the convention, more than 370 of them are openly LGBT (up from 275 in 2004), according to the National Stonewall Democrats. Those delegates represent 48 states, up from 42 in 2004. The states sending gay delegates to the convention for the first time: Hawaii, Mississippi, Montana, South Dakota and Tennessee.

The Advocate news team will be filing news, video, and blog reports from the convention -- and from the gay and lesbian caucus -- throughout the week. Check Advocate.com for the latest updates. (Cathy Markes, The Advocate)

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Name: Art M.
Date posted: 8/26/2008 4:32:00 PM
Hometown: SF>CA>USA

Comment:
Too bad those delegates are going to chose a RELIGIOUS FANATIC whose faith tells him that marriage is only between a man and a woman: In an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune, Obama said, "I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman."
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Name: Roger Burr
Date posted: 8/26/2008 9:51:00 AM
Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

Comment:
Gee... I wonder if the REPUBLICANS are counting and identifying THEIR LGBT delegates. If so, it is only to demonize them. I wonder what the Log Cabin boys and girls are making of this... Is the GOP, to which they appear to be joined at the hip, taking the trouble to even count, much less publicly acknowledge, LGBT people? I'm proud that Senator Ted Kennedy, ill as he is, was able to address the convention and in his remarks state that the time has come to STOP pitting groups against each other; specifically mentioining 'straight against gay'.
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Name: Tom
Date posted: 8/25/2008 8:52:00 PM
Hometown: Seattle

Comment:
Um, can I get a math check over here? 370 is about 8.4% of 4400, not "a solid 6%". I could go for a solid 8% at the outside.

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