Get Out the (Out) Vote

Obama's chance to make sure he leaves no LGBTQ vote behind.

by Timothy J. McLaughlin

Outfest

Evan M. Lopez (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

Every election year, Philadelphia's OutFest becomes ground zero for local and state politicians hoping to win the gay vote. Candidates like now-Mayor Michael Nutter have cultivated a strong following by working the crowd and spreading an LGBTQ-inclusive message. This year, the stakes are even higher: The votes of Philly's LGBTQ community will help decide where Pennsylvania falls in the presidential race. So come Oct. 12, Obama supporters will be hitting OutFest's glitter-covered streets.

For the most part, Obama has an LGBTQ-friendly platform. He supports an extension of the National Employment Nondiscrimination Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity, supports the repeal of the National Defense of Marriage Act and supports civil unions. His opposition to gay marriage, however, makes many LGBTQ voters question his commitment to their cause, and, for most of the primary race, he rarely spoke with LGBTQ media outlets, leaving questions about what he wasn't saying. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton was happily courting the community (Chelsea even made an appearance at Woody's), and enjoyed the endorsement of many LGBTQ advocates in Pennsylvania, including the Liberty City Democrats. Now Obama has a chance to motivate them.

"Our campaign will definitely have a strong presence at OutFest," says Jesse Salazar, the Obama Campaign's Pennsylvania LGBTQ co-director. "We expect to have over 50 volunteers working to provide information to our community about Barack's fantastic record on LGBT issues."

Franny Price, executive director of Philly Pride Presents — the folks who organize OutFest and the PrideDay Parade — say all politicians are welcome. Some are regulars. "I think Ed Rendell has only missed about three of our events in the last 15 years. He's such a ham!"

Hamming it up for the LGBTQ community can have its electoral benefits. Patrick Egan, professor of politics at NYU, has studied the political behavior of gay men, lesbians and bisexuals, and has found a strong link between the coming out process and voting behavior.

"If you rally gays to your cause, you have a built-in voting group that is highly mobilized," Egan says. He explains that coming out often facilitates a "political conversion" whereby many out individuals become more politically active.

Egan also found that LGBTQ voters tend to vote overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates — though there are exceptions.

Log Cabin Republicans, a network of conservative LGBTQ grass-roots organizations, has endorsed John McCain. They say McCain's position on the Federal Marriage Amendment makes him an inclusive Republican. (McCain voted against a motion to consider the amendment; his Web site says he is opposed to gay marriage, but prefers that the states decide marriage issues.)

Brian Tomlin, president of the Philadelphia chapter of Log Cabins, says the endorsement was controversial, but this year, there is more talk of inclusion from the GOP. "They're actually communicating with us. They recognize that we're an important part of the party." The Philadelphia chapter endorses only local candidates, but the seven they endorsed this year all support civil unions and oppose any constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

"What pro-gay record? Give me a break!" says Mark Segal, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News. Segal calls the national group's endorsement, "just blankly shameful."

According to a Harris Poll released on Aug.19, 68 percent of registered LGBTQ voters plan to vote for Obama, only 10 percent for McCain. Clearly, then, the risk for Obama is not losing the LGBTQ vote, but rather not capitalizing on it as much as he might.

After the Harris Poll was taken, the Democrats made a push for LGBTQ voters at their convention, according to Daniel C. Miller, an openly gay Harrisburg City Council member and DNC delegate. In his speech, Obama said that, while there are differences on marriage, "we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in a hospital and to live lives free of discrimination."

"There was a California delegate across the aisle from me who is a lesbian," Miller says. "She ran over to me, hugged me and said, 'Oh, he mentioned us!' Just that he mentioned us was a big moment."

That mention may seem minor, but for some, it's a landmark. The LGBTQ community will look for another one at OutFest.

(editorial@citypaper.net)