Barack Obama Wins Presidency as Gay Rights in Nation Backtrack

We were up late last night running a live blog to which over 8,000 of you tuned in. So thank you. It was incredible to hear voices from all over the country (and the world) chiming in. Thanks too to Corey Johnson, Matthew Rettenmund, Michelangelo Signorile, and my Towleroad partner Michael Goff, who were our panelists. If you'd like to review everything that went down, the post is here.

First things first. We have a new President, Barack Obama. Eight long years of the Bush administration will soon be over. Bush not only destroyed America and its standing in the world, it appears he pretty much destroyed his own party. I could not be more overjoyed that I am not waking up today, as in the past few elections, feeling as though we had the wool pulled over our electoral eyes by a bunch of crooks, some of whom should face the severest scrutiny for the acts they perpetrated on their own country. Anger or vengeance is not my overriding feeling right now, however. It is both exhaustion and joy.

McCain's gracious and emotional concession speech was amazing - amazing in that, given the past two years, this was a John McCain that I did not recognize. If John McCain had run as this person and not as the hateful petty candidate he was (I believe) forced to run as by his own party, he just may have won. Instead, he appealed to the basest instincts of his party and was repudiated by a populace that refused to accept the divisions he and his running mate, Governor Sarah Palin, placed at the center of an ugly, negative campaign. Let Joe the Plumber be sent back to the dustbin of obscurity, please.

In the Presidential race, Obama's electoral count is at 338, McCain's is at 161, with Indiana, Missouri, and North Carolina still up in the air. Florida and Ohio are now blue states, which is amazing. In the Senate, 5 seats have been gained by Democrats, 3 are still undecided. In the House, Democrats gained 18 seats, 10 are still undecided.

Proposition 8 is still in play but right now support for the measure is ahead, 52% to 48%, with 95% of precincts reporting.

It was a battle funded to the tune of $74 million, and we may have lost it. For some reason, California voters put Proposition 2, a measure "to prohibit the cruel confinement of farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs," ahead of the marriage rights of gay people. The farm animal act passed, while gay and lesbian Americans appear to be sent back to the status of second-class citizens and discrimination appears ready to be written into the California constitution. Please do not take that statement as anger that Prop 2 passed. I'm happy it did. I'm just upset that Prop 8 looks likely to as well, and believe it will certainly play out to be a complex story.

People will be looking to place blame. The racial element in the voting will be eyed (exit polls showed 70% of blacks voting for the measure) but should not be the scapegoat. Older white voters also voted in large number for the measure. However, what should be looked at most critically is the millions and millions of dollars pumped in to pass this measure by donors associated with the Church of Latter Day Saints. The Mormons.

And because the measure would likely pass by such a narrow margin, one also has to consider those who could have gone out and voted but didn't, either because of laziness or because they took an Obama win in California for granted.

One thing is for sure, what's done is done. We must move forward. I do believe that our historic presidential win has positioned this country for great change and it is time to take advantage of that. I have spent many hours trying to get the word out about the importance of defeating Proposition 8. But I won't let its passage squelch the hope that fills me today.

We lost on other ballot initiatives as well. Arizona's ban on same-sex marriage passed. Florida's Amendment 2 banning same-sex marriagepassed. Arkansas' anti-gay foster parent and adoption measure passed. Yes, it's done. It's exhausting for me to dwell on the hours I spent reporting on these issues. But what can we do but move on and keep fighting?

Some other bad news:

Anti-gay Michelle Bachmann won in Minnesota. Disgusting.

The race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken in Minnesota looks headed for a recount.

Now for the good news:

Connecticut voters rejected a Constitutional Convention that could have taken away marriage equality there.

Democrat Kay Hagan ousted Elizabeth Dole from the North Carolina Senate.

Gay entrepreneur Jared Polis was elected in Colorado's second district, as was predicted a few months ago. He joins Tammy Baldwin and Barney Frank in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Anti-gay Congressman Marilyn Musgrave is gone from Colorado. Musgrave was the lead sponsor of the Federal Marriage Amendment.

Lupe Valdez won re-election as Dallas County Sheriff.

Kevin Beckner unseated Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair in Florida. According to the Victory Fund, "Beckner is a 37-year-old financial planner. This was his first bid at public office. Blair caused a controversy earlier in the campaign by opposing a day of silence in memory of 15-year-old hate crime victim Lawrence King."

Kate Brown won the race for secretary of state in Oregon, making her the second-highest ranking official in the state.

More Victory Fund wins here and here.

No doubt there are other races I have missed or forgotten to highlight. If you feel particularly happy or angry about one, feel free to let loose in the comments, just try to be good to one another. Thanks too for participating on Towleroad during this election season.

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EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Jared Polis, Democratic Congressional Candidate from Colorado

Yesterday we had the opportunity to sit down with Jared Polis, an openly gay candidate who recently won the Democratic primary in the 2nd Congressional District in Colorado, in a tough campaign against another gay ally, Joan Fitz-Gerald.

If Polis should win in November against Republican challenger Scott Starin, he would become the sixth openly gay person to serve in the U.S. House, filling the seat of Rep. Mark Udall, who is running for the Senate. The Victory Fund calls it all but certain that he'll be elected in November, as the Democratic nominee in a heavily Democratic district.

Towleroad's Corey Johnson spoke with Polis in the Big Tent, which opened yesterday and was humming with activity as a center for new media journalists, bloggers, reporters, and non-profit leaders attending Denver's convention.

Polis spoke to us about his tough campaign and some of the things he looks forward to should he become the first openly gay man elected to the House as a freshman.

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Barney Frank on Jared Polis' Colorado Primary Win

Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank is optimistic about the likely election of out gay Colorado entrepreneur Jared Polis to Congress this November and says its a signal of changes in society at large:

"We are reaching that point where among Democratic voters sexual orientation of a candidate is not a factor."

He also joked that he's glad about it for more personal reasons, and plans to start publicly smoking cigars again: "I can start indulging some bad habits. Let the young gay people find someone else to emulate."

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Jared Polis wins Democratic Primary in Colorado U.S. House Race

In May 2007, I reported that openly gay web entrepreneur and philanthropist Jared Polis had launched a bid for the U.S. House.

Polis fought a tough campaign against Joan Fitz-Gerald, for whom he was bypassed by many of the states top gay and lesbian donors. Polis, however, put $5 million of his own money into the campaign and yesterday came out on top in the 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary.

If Polis should win in November against Republican challenger Scott Starin, he would become the sixth openly gay person to serve in the U.S. House, filling the seat of Rep. Mark Udall, who is running for the Senate. The Victory Fund calls it all but certain that he'll be elected in November, as the Democratic nominee in a heavily Democratic district.

Said Polis: "I always worried that [being gay] would get in the way (of) giving back and contributing to our society. It was a great spirited race . . . and I think the people chose me for the ideas I articulated, the war in Iraq, the fight for universal health care, and really challenging the status quo. "Tonight is just a beginning. There are other important races to be won."

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News: Shanghai, Cynthia Nixon, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Prince William

Australian Capitol Territory holds first same-sex civil partnership ceremony.

Bachelor Summit: Matt Grant towers over Andy Baldwin.

Cynthia Nixon stands by her girlfriend's clothing demands.

Military sociologist Charles Moskos, who helped establish 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', dies in California: "Dr. Moskos' research examined the modern military experience in unprecedented detail, gleaned in part from his ease with the rank-and-file soldiers. 'He truly had an impact on the military,' said Gen. Wesley Clark in a statement. 'He gave many of us the reassurance that someone out there knew us, cared about us and could help see our best interests as a nation and a military were looked after.'" More from SLDN.

Prince William sets sail in the Caribbean.

From the stacks: Grandfather was queer.

Brad Pitt to design green hotel (with team of consultants) in Dubai: "Whilst acting is my career, architecture is my passion. Selecting this development as my first major construction project has been a simple decision. It will underpin not only my values for environmentally-friendly architecture, but also embrace my career in entertainment."

Live Cool: Shanghai gets new gay nightclub.

McCain schedules appearance with country singer John Rich, who once said: "I think if you legalize [gay marriage], you've got to legalize some other things that are pretty unsavory. You can call me a radical, but how can you tell an aunt that she can't marry her nephew if they are really in love and sharing the bills? How can you tell them they can't get married, but something else that's unnatural can happen?" Rich later apologized after public outcry.

Shakespeare's grave getting a makeover.

Queer Quinn : New York news anchor in Freudian slip.

Under Armour issues statement denying relationship with Al Reynolds, Jr. after photo surfaces: "I wanted to clarify what has been reported. Al Reynolds is not a spokesperson for Under Armour, nor is there any business relationship of any kind between the Under Armour brand and Al Reynolds."

Nancy Pelosi endorses gay San Francisco Assemblyman Mark Leno in bid for state senate.

11-year-old trailer once used as canvas for a young Banksy, now may fetch £500,000: "Called Fragile Silence, it shows commandos landing stereo equipment on a beach. The trailer’s owners, Maeve Neal and Nathan Welland, say Banksy has authenticated the work, which he completed before they drove the truck to the Glastonbury Festival in 1998. And instead of them paying him, he gave them two free festival tickets for providing the ‘canvas.’ At the time Banksy, whose real name has never been confirmed, was little known."

Gay Colorado congressional hopeful Jared Polis contributes $2.1 million of his own funds into his campaign.

Fashion world remembers Yves Saint Laurent. Simon Doonan, of Barneys New York: “I have a permanent shrine to Yves in my house: a pair of couture croc thigh boots. His highwayman looks, his Cossacks, his lesbian tuxedos, his sexy safaris, his djellabas, his Spanish cigarette girls, his tartan flings. There is no end to his influence and fabulousness.”

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Colorado Gay Activists Bypass Gay Candidate in House Race

Jared Polis, a web entrepreneur who launched his bid for a Colorado U.S. House seat last May and has received the endorsements of openly gay Rep. Tammy Baldwin as well as the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, was bypassed by top gay fundraisers and activists in his home state in favor of Joan Fitz-Gerald, a former Colorado Senate President.

The Rocky Mountain News reports: "At a fundraiser Thursday night at the Bonnie Brae home of activist Scott Coors and his partner, Dave Hurt, gays young and old wrote checks to help Fitz-Gerald's campaign. 'Kick Jared's ---,' one donor wrote on the memo line of his $250 check. 'This is obviously an interesting race for gay people,' said Scott Miller, whose partner, Tim Gill, is well-known nationwide for helping liberal and gay causes. 'There's an expectation we have to support our own, and there is a sense of disappointment that we didn't endorse Jared.' But Fitz-Gerald's legislative record could not be ignored, Miller and Gill said. 'I think no one has done more for the gay community legislatively than Joan Fitz-Gerald,' Gill told the crowd."

Polis appeared unruffled in a statement to the News: "No one should support a candidate just because they are gay, just as no one should support a candidate just because they are women."

Gill cites loyalty as the reason for his decision. Tough apparently cordial so far, the race, which also includes Will Shafroth, of Boulder, may "be one of the costliest and ugliest primaries in the nation in 2008" according to the paper.

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Gay Entrepreneur Jared Polis Launches U.S. House Bid

Jared Polis, a web entrepreneur and philanthropist from Boulder, Colorado, today launched a bid for the U.S. House that would make him the first openly gay representative from Colorado if elected.

Polis, a Democrat, has built what the Boulder Daily Camera calls "extravagant wealth" by building and selling internet companies Bluemountainarts.com and Proflowers.com, and spent six years serving on the Colorado Board of Education. His work in education goes beyond that, however:

"Besides serving on the state board of education, Polis founded New America School, a system of public charter high schools that teach English to recent immigrants. He currently serves as the school's superintendent. He also started the Polis Foundation in 2000 to support teachers and students through mentoring, tutoring and technology. And he successfully led the effort in November to raise nearly $300 million in a Boulder Valley School District bond issue for school repairs and renovations."

The paper notes that Polis was recently criticized for backing "an ethics-in-government amendment...that limits the value of gifts Colorado elected officials, public employees and their immediate family members can accept."

Neither Polis, nor the paper, feel that his sexuality will be a major factor in "liberal-leaning" Boulder. Said Polis, who has been with his partner Marlon Reis for almost four years: "To have dealt with the closet and coming out in one's life is a character-builder."

Polis is vying with Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald and environmentalist Will Shafroth, both Democrats, for the seat.

Boulder entrepreneur Polis makes U.S. House bid official [daily camera]
Jared Polis [official site]

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