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August 21, 2008

New Obama Website Targets Undecided LGBT Voters

New Obama Website Targets Undecided LGBT Voters

Sen. Barack Obama got a little help Tuesday from some LGBT friends who independently launched a new website designed to woo the approximately 15% of gay voters who have yet to settle on their candidate for November.

LGBTforObama.com was the brainchild of Terry Bean, an Oregon Obama supporter and prominent Democratic fund-raiser who said in a statement, "I was appalled that George Bush got 24% of the GLBT vote in 2000 and again in 2004 and vowed to do all that I could to prevent that from happening again with John McCain." According to a Harris Interactive poll released Tuesday, LGBT voters favor Obama over McCain 68% to 10% in the presidential election, with 3% supporting Ralph Nader, 1% choosing Bob Barr, and another 15% remaining undecided.

The push to get gay and lesbian voters on board the Obama bus came on the heels of a campaign press call Monday aimed at contrasting Obama's record on LGBT hate-crimes legislation with that of his Republican opponent John McCain. More gay-specific announcements are in the works, according to sources close to the campaign.

The independent website will feature a star-studded lineup of bloggers, including such LGBT notables as former HRC executive director Elizabeth Birch, blogger Pam Spaulding, longtime activist David Mixner, and the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson.

The site will also incorporate user-generated content. "We've integrated a number of Web 2.0 tools into the LGBTforObama.com platform," said site adviser Michael Crawford. "Users can engage in discussions, comment on news items, post video testimonials, and tell the world why winning this election is vitally personal to them." (Kerry Eleveld, The Advocate) 

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Cecil L Young
    Date posted: 2008-08-22 7:44 PM
    Hometown: Canton, Michigan

    Comment:

    Ok. first I'll disclaim that I was an early supporter of Hillary Clinton. I was intrigued but not impressed by Obama at least initially. I now support him over McCain. I find it (ironic?) that he split from United Church of Christ which is a tradition that currently suppports and in Vermont will perform civil unions, and in Massachusetts will perform same sex marriage ceremonies. I have a very small bit of sympathy of his leaving his strident (but usually correct) minister and church - I'm not always in agreement with all UCC positions - but I do think the difference between a politician and a minister speaking truth to power would often result in clashes.


  • Name: Terre
    Date posted: 2008-08-21 3:40 PM
    Hometown: San Luis Obispo

    Comment:

    Yes, Obama's campaign does not embrace us. It is typical for EVERY candidate during a campaign to go towards the great middle. I wish it weren't so but it is. Obama has worked for civil rights throughout his professional career. I believe that, once in office, Obama will continue that practice and we will see the end of DOMA within the first four years Obama is President. Gay people have to overcome fear just to be ourselves in the larger society. McCain's campaign centers around fear and the need for security, which is attractive to people who are afraid. Why would anyone except those who are rich or involved in the military think McCain? They're afraid or personally invested and he promises security and prolonged employment for warmongers. I'm looking forward to President Obama.


  • Name: Ronald
    Date posted: 2008-08-21 12:56 PM
    Hometown: Honolulu

    Comment:

    Do your research people (and research doesn't mean going to ONE source aka Obama's site...look up progressive news media sites). He doesn't support full marriage rights and has failed to talk to most LGBT media. Support him if you want "the lesser of two evils" but realize we will never gain ground as a voting bloc while we continue to support those who do not support us. The DNC doesn't even have an inclusion clause in their platform while other parties do. The longer we fail to support the parties that support us the more we become like sheep following a lost cause.


  • Name: David Rogoff
    Date posted: 2008-08-21 8:14 AM
    Hometown: Somerset, NJ

    Comment:

    I'm voting for Obama, while holding my nose. His statement that as a Christian he has to see marriage as between man and woman reflects woeful ignorance on his part and the part of his advisors that a number of main-stream Christian denominations recognize and bless same sex marriage. He could acknowledge that fact when he responds to questions about marriage and say that it, within Christianity, an open question. Anyway, there's no way I could vote for McCain, yet I can totally empathize with any gay person who is so put off by Obama's closed, fundamentalist stance on this issue that they just can't pull the lever for him.


  • Name: Dante
    Date posted: 2008-08-20 9:05 PM
    Hometown: Chicago

    Comment:

    Okay Art, and all of your fellow haters -- go ahead and vote for McCain or a third party candidate (same thing) and see what he does for us. You will have no one to blame but yourselves for all the things we lose... again. Get a grip, people.


  • Name: Art M.
    Date posted: 2008-08-20 6:48 PM
    Hometown: San Francisco, CA

    Comment:

    Obama has not once but on SEVERAL occassions stated that his RELIGIOUS VIEWS color his opinion on same-sex marriage: "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." I'm sorry - I will NOT support another religious fanatic. Clinton (both Bill & Hillary) were pragmatists - they knew when/where they could advance our agenda. We couldn't just stamp our foot & get what we wanted when we wanted it; sadly, the world doesn't work that way. Hillary never claimed her objection to same sex marriage was due to her religious views - WHICH DON'T CHANGE, btw - but due to her realization that federally - at this time - it's not the time to fight the battle. Gee, fault her for being realistic. NO - fault OBAMA for being a religious nutwhack.


  • Name: Jeffrey
    Date posted: 2008-08-20 2:55 PM
    Hometown: Albany

    Comment:

    It is amazing to me how many in our community are so poorly informed about Obamas support of gay rights. Let me remind all of the Hillary supporters that she and her husband are the people who brought you "don't ask, don't tell" not to mention signing the DOMA in the middle of the night. She has spoken about gay rights to gay audiences but, unlike Obama, has not spoken about gay rights to potentially hostile audiences. Further, both candidates support civil unions and NOT marriage. So what is the big difference between Hillary and Barack on gay issues? As far as singling out black men as slow to embrace diversity I can only say P-L-E-A-S-E. Homophobia comes in many different colors and genders.


  • Name: Jim Maynard
    Date posted: 2008-08-20 2:49 PM
    Hometown: Memphis

    Comment:

    Ronald, you are WRONG! Obama and his campaign are very inclusive of LGBT voters, and there is even a section on the Obama website called "Obama Pride" devoted to the LGBT community! There are several other LGBT/gay Obama websites out there, but just because they are not ran by the Obama campaign doesn't mean the Obama campaign is anti-gay! Jeez..


  • Name: Paula White
    Date posted: 2008-08-20 7:56 AM
    Hometown: Louisville, KY

    Comment:

    Let me first say that I will vote for our Democratic candidate. The Dems will always be friendlier to gay/women's causes than the Repubs. I am also excited to see a person of color running fot the office but I also am very skeptical of his committment to LGBT concerns. Traditionally, Black men have been the slowest to embrace diversity of sexuality and gender identity and this worries me. I think that we may yet again be swept under the carpet in an effort to win the race. I do applaud Mr Bean for his efforts and hope that it makes a difference because as a Hillary supporter originally I am concerned that Obama may not be able to convince so many different points of view that he will be the best one for the job!


  • Name: Ronald
    Date posted: 2008-08-19 11:50 PM
    Hometown: Honolulu

    Comment:

    Note how the Obama campaign wasn't the one to spearhead this idea. They are NOT inclusive of LGBT rights. Period.


  • Name: J. Green author of MERGING WITH MONSTERS
    Date posted: 2008-08-19 7:26 PM
    Hometown: Denver, CO

    Comment:

    My hat is off for Terry Bean for his effort. Why anyone in our community would even consider voting for McCain is beyond me? People have gotten far too comfortable with being treated LESS THAN EQUAL. Why is this? I'm not certain of an answer. But people have got to stop being afraid of change. I suppose this is why so many are having a difficult time with Senator Clinton's loss: desperately trying to bring back some semblance of a time period that was supposedly really "good for the gays." Let's unite behind Senator Obama and move on. If McCain wins the White House, our goal of TRUE EQUALITY will only become more distant. Peace Out!


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