CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
LGBT Philadelphia voters appeared to vote as a bloc in the city's Democratic mayoral primary last May, helping candidate Michael Nutter win over four opponents, according to a recent study by the gay rights group Equality Forum.
"Collectively, gays voted 2 to 1 [for Nutter] over the citywide average of 36.6%," Malcolm Lazin, executive director for Equality Forum, told The Advocate on Tuesday. "This is particularly groundbreaking in many ways."
Lazin said the information is valuable because it reflects the power of the gay vote in even broader elections. "If a candidate gives the right cues, they can deliver a bloc vote which enormously shows the voting power in that voting group. Michael Nutter gave those cues."
Equality Forum's study revealed that Nutter won an average of 74% of the vote among seven distinct gay neighborhoods.
"From the viewpoint of looking at gay voters, we tried--short of an exit poll because of the cost involved--to determine if there was a gay vote," Lazin said. "Obviously, the numbers speak for themselves. Those are objective numbers."
The methodology of the study found that, using numbers compiled from the U.S. Census, 69% of same-sex households throughout the city voted for Nutter.
Five well-known Democratic candidates were up for the mayoral primary. Each had gay-friendly records as well as experience in public office. In fact, according to an Equality Forum statement, Nutter spent most of the race in fourth place before a surge that earned him a plurality of the total vote. And in heavily Democratic Philadelphia, he is now poised to defeat Republican challenger Al Taubenberger, replacing current mayor John Street.
But why Nutter, if all the Democratic candidates were qualified and pro-gay?
"My opinion was that Michael Nutter ran as an outsider, and he was gay-supporting as a city councilman, but he wanted to change City Hall," Lazin explained. "I think because our community views itself as an outsider of the mainstream, they found him to be the candidate who best represents their issues." (Michelle Garcia, The Advocate)
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Joe Biden admin marks Earth Day with major environmental initiatives
April 22 2024 4:18 PM
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: 'We want to end' trans and gender nonconforming teachers
April 22 2024 4:13 PM
Nonbinary 17-year-old killed two years after being reported missing
April 22 2024 3:46 PM
Pride
Yahoo FeedIndulge in luxury and sensuality with The Pride Store’s Taurus gift guide
April 22 2024 11:46 AM
The gay man leading the Earth Day Initiative offers hope for the future
April 22 2024 9:00 AM
Pattie Gonia takes drag and fierceness to Capitol Hill to voice environmental concerns
April 22 2024 8:23 AM
Jodie Foster leaves her mark in cement at L.A.'s Chinese Theatre
April 22 2024 7:55 AM
Climate change has a bigger impact on LGBTQ+ couples than straight couples. Here's how
April 22 2024 7:42 AM
Iraq postpones vote on bill punishing gay sex with death
April 20 2024 1:31 PM
Russian poetry contest bans entries from transgender poets
April 20 2024 1:25 PM
Here's who won 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 16
April 20 2024 1:01 PM
The Tip Off: A beginners guide to the WNBA
April 20 2024 11:06 AM
John Fetterman challenges Pa. school board’s cancellation of talk by gay actor
April 19 2024 2:39 PM
New study finds inadequate response to mpox outbreak
April 19 2024 2:06 PM