Where would Dean Place without the Gay Vote?

I am not attacking Dean in this post. But it seems to me that if Dean is getting about 10% of the Democratic vote and Democrats are 1/3 of the US Population, and 40% of Democrats are not taking interest in any current candidate, that means gays could make a huge chunk of Dean's support. I mean if all the active gay people took to Dean's campaign, how could he not get about 10% of the Democratic vote. If half of Dean's support are gay people, how much more could he grow if others drop out of the race? What do you think? This issue has not been brought up, it would be interesting to see what percentage of Dean's supporters are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or transgender. I am not knocking them, just curious.

J4Clark

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While Civil Unions as a practical solution in obtaining
same sex couples rights, gave Dean a boost--I doubt it would
change his support either way.

Unless you are a one issue person.

(supress gag reflex) reported yesterday that most of Dean's support comes from the more educated Dems. Those with grad degrees and post-grad degrees favor him by a wide margin. I guess he's the thinking persons' candidate.

I know that, I saw it on Inside Politics. But you are assuming that most gay men are NOT upper class working professionals. Must the ones I know here on the West Coast are. Gay people generally don't have kids and can concentrait on work and generally move to large cities where they are more excepted. Dean places very well in these areas that are high in Gay population. California has huge populations of Gays and Lesbians and he places first in the state. Nobody has done a poll to find out.

I know it is only one issue. But let us face facts, to an oppressed group of people, this is a very BIG one issue for Gays and Lesbians.

J4Clark

I have not once been in the majority as a homosexual. Also the California poll where Dean is tied for the lead shows him behind Kerry in the bay area but far ahead in LA. For his support to be overwhelmingly gay that should be reversed.

Why wouldn't gays go for someone that wants them to have FULL human rights, including federally?

The other candidates are all stronger gay rights supporters. If he's counting on the gay vote, he may be in trouble.

Are the other candidates are stronger?

Dean said it was a state by state issue. This leaves some states the option of outlawing gay rights.

Dean said he will try to get rid of DOMA and force the states to come to a solution on how to give equal rights to everybody. He just doesn't want a federal bill involving marriage, since it constitutinoally up to the states. Dean will leave it up to the states on whether to call it domestic partnerships, gay marriage, civil unions, or whatever, so long as the results are the same.

Please support your statement, "The other candiates support total nationwide equality for gays" with a source.

You Dean people would make good attack dogs. I took the time to watch Dean's interview on "Meet the Press." you might want to watch your own candidate. You might learn something. Someone above posted an article on Dean's position. You might want to read it.

Also, you guys might want to clean up your language. It detracts from your points.

I contend what you said is false. You made the claim - now prove it.

Instead of throwing out false allegations and refusing to back them up.

Only Congressman Dennis Kucinich, former Senator Carol Mosely Braun and Reverend Al Sharpton support legalizing same-sex marriage. However, Braun insisted it's a state rather than a federal issue.

Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, Congressman Dick Gephardt and former Governor Howard Dean endorsed civil unions but not marriage. Kerry and Dean cited religious reasons. It was Dean, who as governor of Vermont pressed for that state's groundbreaking partnership union law.

http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/690625

Go to www.hrc.org and either watch the video of their forum or read the questionaires.

Dean's record without civil unions would put him in the upper tier of candidates. According to Out In the Mountains which is Vermonts LGBT newspaper of record Dean did all of the following before civil unions.

Signed a statewide ENDA law which he helped pass
Gave gay couples who were state employees benefits
Permitted gay couples to adopt children as a couple
Appointed the first openly gay representative to the Vermont House
signed a gay hate crime law

That is a pretty impressive list without civil unions. This isn't a state secret. Next time do your homework.

and maybe Mosley Braun are stronger than Dean on that.

By reading the headlines, Bush is going to push for a Constitutional amendment FORBIDDING gay marriage.

It is one thing to say that you don't want to force religions to sanction gay marriages, it is quite another to expressly forbid it.

Bush is going to push this as a hot topic to undermine all them lib'rals in 2004.

I HOPE Bush makes this an issue. I really want him to go down in history that way...

the 3rd biggest pride celebration in the Nation I believe. We were the only campaign there, and got LOTS OF CHEERS and lots of support.

people from all walks of life. Gays, straight, students, retirees, homemakers, professionals...Dean is doing well across the board in my opinion.

Or how about Gay4Kucinich, or Gays4Gephardt"? No, you don't. There are tons and tons of Yahoo! Groups that are Gays4Dean. That is why I ask. Furthermore, dispite common misconception, there are more gay people in LA than SF. LA has about 4 million people. SF is much much smaller. SF is liberal, it does not have a population of 50% gay people. I still would like to see a poll showing Dean's support amoung gay people vs. other candidates, I am willing to bet it is higher than other candidates by a large margin.


J4Clark

For signing the civil unions bill, standing by it in the face of extreme bigotry, and winning. If a group of people is impressed with a candidate for standing up for their right to be treated equally under the law, I don't see the problem with that.