04/11/2007
John Edwards Shows Off His Gay Supporters
Making a pronounced effort to show that he has the backing of the gay community, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards released a list of 25 gay leaders on Tuesday, announcing that they have endorsed his campaign.
Said Edwards, "They work hard every day to make our country a better place and I am proud to join with them to fight for equal rights for all Americans."
A notable name on the list was the presence of political strategist and activist David Mixner, whose relationship as a fundraiser and advisor for Bill Clinton became strained after Clinton presented his "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and Mixner publicly protested it in front of the White House.
Mixner told me he'll be posting an endorsement of Edwards on his website later today.
Here's the list of gay leaders supporting John Edwards for President:
Skip Paul, Corporate Executive
Darren Star, TV Producer
Julie Johnson, Human Rights Campaign Public Policy Committee Co-Chair
Eric Stern, Former National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director; Former Democratic National Committee LGBT Outreach Director
David Mixner, Former Bill Clinton for President Adviser; LGBT activist, fundraiser, author www.davidmixner.com
Dennis Erdman, TV Producer/ Director
Mary Snider, Human Rights Campaign Board of Directors Executive Committee Member
David Tseng, Kerry-Edwards 2004 National LGBT Advisory Committee Co-Chair; Former Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) National Executive Director
David Mariner, Former Out for Howard Dean Co-Chair; Founder, www.outfordemocracy.org
James Duff, TV Producer
Ramon Gardenhire, National Stonewall Democrats Black Caucus Co-Chair; Former DNC LGBT Deputy Outreach Director
Scott Benson, Majority Leader Minneapolis City Council
Shane Larson, AFL-CIO Pride @ Work National Executive Board Member; Association of Flight Attendants (AFA)-Communications Workers of America (CWA) Government Affairs Director
Scott Wiener, Human Rights Campaign Board of Directors Member; San Francisco Democratic Party Chair* (for identification purposes only)
Jeff Gardner, Garden State Equality Vice Chair; New Jersey for Democracy Co-Chair
Lynne Wiggins, Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) National Leadership Council Member; Former Human Rights Campaign Board of Governors Member
Ken Keechl, Broward County Commissioner; Former Dolphin Democrats President
Linda Elliott, Human Rights Committee Board of Directors Member
Dave Garrity, Former Democratic National Committee Member
Mark Periello, Former Human Rights Campaign staff member; Democratic strategist
Ron Ginsburg, LGBT Community Activist; business owner
Randall Kelly, LGBT Community Activist; attorney
Stephanie Kornegay, LGBT Community Activist; business owner
Robert D. Horvath, Mautner Project Board of Directors Member
Patrick J. Lyden, LGBT Community Activist; Homeland Security Advisor
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Posted 8:22 AM EST by Andy in David Mixner, Democratic Party, Election 2008, Gay Rights, John Edwards, News | Permalink
Comments
That's really nice and all, but I still have a bad feeling about John Edwards (and Hillary). Obama is looking better.
Posted by: Rad | Apr 11, 2007 8:52:23 AM
Of all the candidates, he's the one who has ideas that I can elate to and support, so, seeing he has a strong gay presence only ensures my vote for him. Hillary, nah, Obama, nah, to me those are wasted votes, as this country isn't ready for either. They say so in polls, but, what they really feel is different, and since its going to take a win in a Southern state, Mr Edwards has the best chance, and he's for the little guy, and now "Out" for the glbt community as well, good things from a good looking man!
Posted by: mark | Apr 11, 2007 9:07:11 AM
I do believe we can and should have a woman or black man as president. However, I think John Edwards would be the better person, rather than the best woman or black man-candidate. He speaks on subjects that matter to me.
Posted by: W=Wimp | Apr 11, 2007 9:16:26 AM
I am glad he did this and really like Edwards, although the image of him letting Dick Cheney walk all over him in their VP debate still lingers.
But it's great we have someone who proudly declares he supports us instead of needing to clarify himself on homosexuals as Obama and Hillary had to do recently.
But before I get ga ga over Edwards or anyone, I will have to wait till the primary season actually begins. Still so far away, it hurts.
Posted by: Marco | Apr 11, 2007 9:39:40 AM
Interesting what constitutes a "gay leader" these days: Darren Star, Dennis Erdman and James Duff, TV producers!? My excitement was pretty much cooled after looking at the names on the list. Shame, it was a smart initiative....
Posted by: Stewart | Apr 11, 2007 9:50:29 AM
Thank God that list didn't include Reichen. Perhaps he's just supporting Hillary....
Posted by: Dan B | Apr 11, 2007 10:37:19 AM
Endorsed by the creator of "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Melrose Place"? He's got my vote!
Posted by: matt | Apr 11, 2007 10:49:57 AM
Nit picking over what makes a "gay leader" [or whom we like—I'm no fan of Mixner, Starr, and few HRCers] are far beside the point that this is an incredibly courageous move on Edwards' part because it puts him in the center of the bullseye that the American Taliban are painting for 2008. Like the typical fascistic retards that they are, they're more about voting AGAINST something or someone than voting for, e.g., those Big Lies about "hate the sin, love the sinner;" and "voting to protect 'traditional marriage.'" Knowing this, more-or-less OK-with-gay Dems might see him now as unelectable and move their support to Hillary or the Rev. Obama for the nomination because they are still tiptoeing around us; Obama making it worse by embracing religious right wing Dems who hate us.
In the end, what's most important to me is electing a Dem, but this proves Edwards has balls and I applaud him for it.
Posted by: Leland | Apr 11, 2007 11:01:08 AM
I think its sort of sad that those are our gay leaders. Maybe that is why we have such an issue in America today..When black people were trying to make a difference in their lives, there were people like MLK Jr and Malcolm X..and we have Darren Star? I dont see this much as being couragoues so much as pandering to the homosexual community because he knows right now our votes are split.
Posted by: Kit | Apr 11, 2007 11:16:27 AM
PS: After having blown [!] his relationship with his Ticket to Perpetual Pop Celebrityhood ["See Reichen NOT in the picture with Lance at the White Party. See Reichen NOT in the picture with Lance watching Joey Fatone on 'Dancing With the Stars," etc.], Little Ricky is wandering the desert of the once famous for being famous. Months ago, while still Bass's pushy bottom, he ran into Rev. Obama on the tour for his novel, excuse me, autobiography. After informing the Senator that he was "THE ONE leading the battle against DADT," Reichen said he really admired him but couldn't support him because he doesn't support gay marriage. Given than none of the possible candidates do, perhaps he'll endorse him now, though it's hard to imagine the Rev. releasing a list of "Gay Meat Puppets for Obama."
Posted by: Leland | Apr 11, 2007 11:21:47 AM
FUCK YOU GAY FAGGOTZ
HOPE YOU ALL DIE OF AIDS HAHAHAHAHA
Posted by: Hao Rui Chin | Apr 11, 2007 11:29:05 AM
I agree with Leland. "Leader" has more than one definition and with all the debates on Towleroad about the Hollywood closet -- and the current Out magazine list of 50 most powerful gays -- I'd think people get by now that being an out producer or director or just about anything else in that town still unfortunately takes guts. They're "leaders" if by no other definition than the fact that they are "up front" whereas so many others are still hiding to one degree or another -- even if they're filthy rich like Barry Diller or pretty rich and successful like Jodie Foster and others. Regardless Edwards stood up and said, "I'm proud to have these out nonapologetically gay people support me." No other candidate, Democrat or Republican, has done that. Pandering? Pandering would be giving you a blow job Kit and I don't expect Edwards to do that (though Guliani McCain or Rove might for a vote).
Posted by: Jim | Apr 11, 2007 11:39:36 AM
I didn't know the gays had leaders. Now we know where to take the Martians.
Posted by: gwyneth cornrow | Apr 11, 2007 11:42:26 AM
My thing is, I think at this point, they're proud to have ANYBODY support them. They need votes. Its not like Edwards has the case all sewn up and is still doing this. If he was guaranteed the Presidency, do you think he would still be releasing this list? No. This is the very definition of pandering. Giving me a blowjob would be bribery.
Posted by: Kit | Apr 11, 2007 11:47:49 AM
Ok, Kit, you've only demonstrated that you have a bad case of political reality indigestion and nothing more. Remembering your Granny's admonition to not say anything if you can't say something nice, what would YOU do to advance gay civil rights, being the apparent gay leader that you are.?
Posted by: Leland | Apr 11, 2007 12:09:11 PM
Leland, Barack Obama hasnt "embraced" the religious right. Crack open "The Audacity of Hope" and you'll find that Obama pretty much disagrees with everyone one of their views and techniques.
Obama is just an individual who can openly admit to being a spiritual person. But he himself has said that religion has no place in the political sphere. In fact, he was raised atheist, and was only drawn to religion when he realized the power that Black churches had in social justice and the spiritual upliftment from poverty.
He's not afraid to admit that he is spiritual, unlike Kerry in 2004. He is also quick to denounce to manipulation of religion and spirituality for political gains.
He has my vote.
P.S. If you're going to insist on calling Obama "reverend" because he changed his voice while talking to a black audience, I suggest you call Hillary "reverend" as well since she did the EXACT same thing in Selma, Alabama. Her accent came off even more insincere.
Posted by: Shaun | Apr 11, 2007 2:37:09 PM
Hey there,
I'm one of the folks on the list, and I'm proud to be supporting Edwards.
I just want to point out the most obvious thing that I don't think anyone else has brought up yet.
This press release is on the FRONT PAGE of the John Edwards website today.
I challenge anyone here to go to Barack Obama's official campaign website or Hillary Clinton's official campaign website and find anything that has to do with LGBT people or LGBT equality.
Posted by: David Mariner | Apr 11, 2007 3:11:27 PM
Yes, that's why he says, "...what God wants us to do...," in his speeches.
Posted by: Leland | Apr 11, 2007 3:27:52 PM
Should have read, "Yes, that's why Obama says, '...what God wants us to do...,' in his speeches."
And, thank you, David Mariner for pointing out that revealing fact about the difference in what is on the campaign sites of Edwards, Hillary, and the Rev.
Posted by: Leland | Apr 11, 2007 3:30:30 PM
I can not vote for Obama. He is for amnesty for illegals. He supports giving straight illegal immigrants all the rights of an (straight) American yet does not for gay Americans. That is not just.
Putting this list on the front page of the Edwards website is more than Clinton or Obama would do. It still will not persuade me to vote for him. He is religious. This country needs someone who is less religious and more rational. Also, Bill Clinton promised a lot of things for gay people and then signed DOMA and DADT. I think this is just a money raising stunt. Bill Clinton and Howard Dean got a lot of money from gay people when they were believed to by pro gay rights.
Posted by: Jack! | Apr 11, 2007 4:04:25 PM
Let's see. Endorsements by 25 people I do not know, never heard of and do not care if I ever know or not. And why in the world are they endorsing Edwards? What has he ever said or done on behalf of gay people? I am tired of lip service by Democrats. The only Democrat that is remotely attractive to me is Richardson. He is the only one that has had the guts to speak out for our rights. The others are trying hard not to turnoff the ultra conservative black relgious leaders by supporting gays. And Republicans? Rudy? It is going to be a hard candy Christmas.
Posted by: Hense | Apr 11, 2007 11:44:39 PM
Maybe he'll lose a few of those supporters after this: http://thenewsroom.com/details/359295/Campaign+2008?c_id=tvo Not what I would have hoped for from Edwards
Posted by: John | Jun 2, 2007 6:39:21 PM
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