Survey: Dean leads among gay voters

According to a survey released this week by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean is the favorite of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered voters. Among those planning to vote in the Democratic primary, 32% said they back the former Vermont governor. Sen. John Kerry came in second with 10%, and the rest of the candidates were in the single digits. "I am proud that the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community has embraced my candidacy," Dean said in a prepared statement. "I am committed to ensuring full equality for every American." Openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual voters make up 5% of the vote in national elections and 10% of the vote in the Democratic primary, according to the Voter News Service. "Clearly, Governor Dean's record of leadership on civil unions in Vermont and his willingness to speak about equal rights for gay people to all audiences is resonating in our community," said Matt Foreman, NGLTF executive director. In the NGLTF survey, 1,471 people were questioned at three gay pride parades in New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., in June.