07/10/2007
Democratic Presidential Candidates to Have First-Ever Gay Debate
The Human Rights Campaign's Joe Solmonese and Melissa Etheridge will question Democratic candidates in Los Angeles in a first-ever debate on gay issues, sponsored by LOGO and HRC. It will take place on August 9 and be broadcast live on LOGO as well as stream live at their website.
According to 365gay.com, "the panelists in a statement said they plan to cover a range of issues including relationship recognition, marriage equality, workplace fairness, the military, hate crimes, HIV/AIDS and other important issues."
In addition to questions from Solmonese and Etheridge, others will be able to participate by submitting questions through LOGOonline and HRC.
Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and Barack Obama have all confirmed they will take part in the debate.
UPDATE: Chris Dodd, Mike Gravel, and Dennis Kucinich have climbed on board.
Posted 5:55 PM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Democratic Party, Election 2008, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, News | Permalink
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Other than the fact that she's a lesbian, what the heck qualifies Melissa Etheridge to ask these presidential candidates questions? She annoys the hell out of me. They couldn't find a lesbian journalist or commentator to be there??
Posted by: David | Jul 10, 2007 6:02:17 PM
Shut up, David. This is HRC. Melissa just barely beat out Reichen for the honor.
Of course, you can't help but wonder if the NAACP would choose Beyoncé, Whitney, or ODB to moderate their debate.
Posted by: 24play | Jul 10, 2007 6:06:55 PM
24PLAY:
Please get your names correct. The NAACP would pick Biz Markie.
Melissa Etheridge?!?!?!?! This is sad and wrong.
Posted by: James | Jul 10, 2007 6:13:45 PM
Anderson Cooper was apparently unavailable...
Posted by: kitchenbeard | Jul 10, 2007 6:14:24 PM
Is this what they call a "mixed blessing," or is it more a "double-edged sword?" The first such forum [BRAVO!] simultaneously reinforcing the growing loss of independent LGBT voices in the increasing conglomerization of LGBT media [BOO!!!!] while reinforcing the Human Rights Champagne fund and its self-proclaimed patent on the gay movement. [BOO to the tenth power!!!] Melissa's great in many ways, but having her in this role is like CNN using Justin Timberlake at one of their debates. Would it have gotten Joe Solmonese's yellow and blue panties too much in a bunch to have included NGLTF and Lambda Legal and PFLAG as cosponsors, and their leaders as fellow questioners? After all, the last good idea his predecessor Elizabeth Let's Turn HRC Into A Money Machine Birch had was merging HRC and NGLTF.
And, since this is HRC-controlled and gay celebrity driven, will there be commercial spots featuring Reichen wearing only something from his FLY NAKED jewelry line; a cock ring perhaps. Wait, this is LOGO and gay men aren't allowed to be anatomically correct on LOGO. [That shouldn't disqualify "Little Reichen."]
We can only hope that Obama is preparing by entering "Don't Do 'I'm Not Gay' Jokes" rehab, and Bill Richardson, who's sure to appear, too, preparing by writing, "'Maricon does not mean, 'I luv the gays'" on the blackboard a thousand times. Someone please explain "puto" to him pronto.
BTW: YouTube and CNN [without Justin] are soliciting video question submissions for their July 23rd Democratic debate [deadline is July 22nd] and their September Repug debate.
http://youtube.com/debates
and a site where you can sort the topics so far:
http://www.communitycounts.us/
As CNN will choose which ones to use and, thanks to the failure of HRC, our rights remain pretty much an afterthought in mainstream media [except as an issue of conflict], it's unlikely more than one, if any, serious gay equality-related questions will make the cut, but that shouldn't prevent those with the equipment to do it from trying.
Posted by: Leland | Jul 10, 2007 6:21:17 PM
oh crap. melissa as moderator? our big chance to shine on the national stage and we get someone high on al gore kool-aid.
Posted by: psgoodguy | Jul 10, 2007 6:30:02 PM
Can't you queens do anything other than bitch? This is first live debate ever on LGBT issues and yes, it was organized by HRC. It will be a great opportunity for LGBT voters to hear the candidates speak to our issues.
The moderators may not be the perfect choice, but this is something that is critically important and gives us the opportunity to call on the candidates to take stronger action in favor of LGBT civil rights.
HRC and Logo should be commended for organizing the event.
Posted by: Bloggernista | Jul 10, 2007 6:47:31 PM
Bloggernista,
Oh please. If a journalist was on the stage, then you might have a point, but Ms. Etheridge? Come on. You expect me to take that seriously?
Posted by: James | Jul 10, 2007 6:53:22 PM
Dennis Kucinich is only Democrat running that fully supports every gay issue including gay marriage. So why do we have a problem when it comes time to figure out who to vote for if marriage is a big concern. Why vote for someone you still have to keep pressuring. The others are still homophobic when they say they don’t personally believe in gay marriage but if the states want it then its up to them to pass it.
Posted by: Rufus | Jul 10, 2007 7:22:43 PM
sad that the event is relegated to the gay ghetto while the recent naacp "debate" got wide coverage. oh well.. baby steps i suppose.
unfortunately, this dregs up memories of BILL clinton 'feeling our pain' and giving us false hope before totally fucking us.. and not in the good way.
as for melissa...meh.. she's a fairly bright and articulate gay mom (although i don't get her obsession with gore.) it could have been worse, they could have invited o'donnell... yikes.
Posted by: el polacko | Jul 10, 2007 7:27:22 PM
Re: The debate and the candidates -- I'm glad they're doing it, although it will be interesting (or perhaps painful) to see them tread gingerly around the things we really want (like, um, equality), while they tell us things that we already know: e.g., that we're everywhere, that it's important that we vote, that it's critical to have a Democratic president in order to prevent more Supreme Court justices like Roberts and Alito, etc. But far better that they acknowledge us than demonize us, as the other side continues to try to do.
The choice of moderator (while I do wish her well) is evidently a marketing stunt. Just wait until we see the promos on Logo--M.E. will get billing above any of the candidates: "Watch the presidential debate August 9th--with Melissa Etheridge, only on Logo..."
Posted by: Gianpiero | Jul 10, 2007 7:30:29 PM
What a sad bunch of bitching bitches you all are. Whether she should be the moderator or not Melissa Etheridge does more for gay rights and the environment in a few minutes than all you sad, lazy people do all year sitting on your buts putting down everyone else. What a sad situation.
Posted by: BIMBO_ERUPTION | Jul 10, 2007 8:03:04 PM
James,
Yeah, I do expect you to take seriously that one of those people on the stage will most likely be our next president and that they will be discussing our civil rights. Besides, the bitchy queen has gotten us nowhere near where we need to be.
Posted by: Bloggernista | Jul 10, 2007 8:14:24 PM
Bimbo,
I don't think anyone has criticized Melissa's gay-rights or (hello? irrelevant) environmental activism. But as has been clearly demonstrated in the debates so far this year, having a hard-hitting moderator who forces the candidates to answer the questions they're asked AND points out when they've got their facts wrong basically determines whether the event is a total waste of time.
Melissa may end up doing a bang-up job (she is ballsy), but she's not exactly the most qualified queer to pop to mind. And given Solmonese's piss-poor media skills and love of slumber-inducing, liberal PC-speak, we really could use an ace interlocutor behind the other mic.
You got a problem with queens demanding HRC spend our money wisely (for a change)?
Posted by: 24play | Jul 10, 2007 8:20:32 PM
I think this is a step in the right direction. Frankly, it doesn't matter if Mellisa is the moderator, if HRC and its various advisors write the questions. Who are our current high profile queer journalists anyway? Jason Bellini? Ellen Ratner would have been a good choice, but she is not necessarily associated with gay media. Gore Vidal would have been great!! But, he is a novelist. And Urvashi Vaid! is a writer and activist, but again, not a journalist. And Vidal and Vaid would would not allow themselves to be "managed" by HRC, and that is the problem. HRC doesn't like to get down and dirty. Perhaps we should compile a list and forward it to the the HRC folk and stop bitchin'!
Posted by: Calaca | Jul 10, 2007 8:24:26 PM
wtf?
melissa, when did she become a reporter?
could they not find any OUT(anderson does not count, LOL) reporter, like John Roberts?
Posted by: johnosahon | Jul 10, 2007 8:29:44 PM
Obama? The same Obama who refused to meet with Gavin Newsom because he was afraid someone might take a photo? Up and coming presidential candidates can't be seen with the "wrong" kind of people, ya know.
Posted by: Mark | Jul 10, 2007 8:33:46 PM
There's a wealth of out journalists in television news and at newspapers/magazines in the U.S., not to mention a handful of excellent editors/reporters at The Advocate and a few local gay papers.
Then there are the bloggers. Regardless of what you think of their particular views, you can't deny Mike Signorile, Dan Savage, and Andrew Sullivan would all be well-prepared, no-bullshit, and charismatic moderators who could guarantee this debate would be must-see TV.
Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if the candidates (one in particular) had input on selecting moderators. In fact, Solmonese and Etheridge probably were part of the deal before the candidates signed on. Can you say non-threatening?
Posted by: 24play | Jul 10, 2007 8:36:44 PM
Etheridge may not be a reporter, but she has a good command of issues, gay or otherwise, and she will bring attention to the forum because of her celebrity.
Who was selected to moderate/ask questions is less important than the nature of the questions and answers. I suspect the candidates will be careful and walk a fairly moderate path on the issues.
BTW-if you caught Etheridge's Live Earth performance, you wouldn't have any doubt that she is politically in tune.
Posted by: Emerald | Jul 10, 2007 8:37:45 PM
Joe Solmonese? From Boston?
Joe Solmonese discussing gay marriage is like Bill Clinton talking about fidelity. Can't we elect a gay rights leader who does not have such a messy personal life?
Pot=BLACK
Posted by: WashDCInformant | Jul 10, 2007 8:47:13 PM
Attention HRC directors: there are openly gay reporters, such as Adam Negourney of the New York Times, whose assigned beat is following Presidential campaigns. Adam Negourney is the kind of guy you folks at the HRC should ask to pose questions, not Ms. Rock Star.
Posted by: JackNasty | Jul 10, 2007 9:01:04 PM
It is amazing that ANYTHING gets done in our community when the very first reaction to ANY good news is always to BITCH ABOUT IT. I am amazed at the legions of idiots who sit at their keyboards ready to bith-slpa their way through any and every step toward anything resembling progress for us. If it doesn't come wrapped in a Pink Queer Party Package with the bow you specifically select it is wrong. So immediately HRC is slammed. Big shock there. Throw in NGLTF and every other group that doesn't come up to snuff when viewed by the bitchy queens from hell who obviously spend their lives ready to critically pounce on anything and everything they see. There are lives at stake, real people and real issues. This is not you at a bar, sloshing down your cocktail and bitching out everything around you. Andy's Blog is a perfect example. Here is a man who daily does something positive and powerful for our community and the very first people to post are balsting away at everything in sight like reject judges from Project Runway. Queens-- get a life, DO something, volunteer, work to makes things better and get off your asses and quite being critical of people like Etheridge who has done FAR more for us than any of your bitchy pithy comments ever would or could.
Posted by: broke6 | Jul 10, 2007 9:10:57 PM
Jesus! Bla, bla, bla.
That off my chest, two points:
1. Those that sponsor get to pick--MTV(LOGO)and HRC. Think it through.
2. Keep eyes on the prize. This is a process and every step forward is important.
Posted by: Carl Hendrickson | Jul 10, 2007 9:17:21 PM
First, as to this announcment- wow- I can't imagine this having occured even 5 years ago. Can anyone else?
To the pissy queens- life is really short. Meaning - no time for being pissed on by you. Laterz
Posted by: akaison | Jul 10, 2007 9:42:56 PM
Are Obama, Clinton and Edwards the only ones participating or have you invited all presedential candidates and they are the only ones to comfirm so far??
I'm asking because Gravel and Kucinich are the only 2 candidates that support gay MARRIAGE. So it is only fair they at least get an invite.
Posted by: peter | Jul 10, 2007 11:05:33 PM