Kristofer Eisenla Does the DNC

Long before Kristofer Eisenla became deputy chief of staff and communications director for U.S. representative Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), he campaigned for Clinton marching around the living room of his staunchly Republican grandparents' home with a sign he'd crafted himself. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine 16 years later he'd be so actively involved in the planning of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.

BY Kristofer Eisenla

October 09 2008 12:00 AM ET

Swing States: Colorado x390 03 (getty) | Advocate.com

We learned from
2004 exit polls that LGBT Americans represented 4% to 6%
of the electorate, a crucial number that could decide the
outcome of the 2008 contest in a number of
battleground states, including Colorado, New Mexico,
and even Virginia. LGBT Americans could tip the scales come
this November.

The great thing
about working on the 2008 Democratic National Convention
was whether you were a communications director for a member
of Congress like myself, or the chief technology
officer for the Democratic National Convention
Committee, or even the deputy campaign manager for our
party's nominee, as LGBT Americans we all had an
important role in making this convention a success,
not only for our community but for the entire
Democratic community.

As a gay man, the
openness and inclusiveness that I felt working on the
2008 convention in Denver is truly emblematic of the
Democratic Party I chose to root for in my
grandparents' living room. And now, as someone who
knows a great deal more about politics, I understand why.