Visible Vote '08: A Presidential Forum

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Visible Vote '08: A Presidential Forum
Logo
ReleaseAugust 9, 2007 (2007-08-09)

The Visible Vote ’08: A Presidential Forum aired live on August 9, 2007 on the TV channel

Logo. It was the first-ever live televised forum with U.S. Presidential candidates discussing solely LGBT-related issues.[1] Logo co-sponsored the event, the first live one in its history,[1] with the Human Rights Campaign
.

Format

Each candidate appeared on the program in the order in which they accepted the invitation from Logo and the Human Rights Campaign to participate.

Jonathan Capeheart. Margaret Carlson
was moderator.

Issues discussed at the forum included

Don't Ask, Don't Tell"; employment discrimination based on sexual orientation; and HIV/AIDS
.

Attendees

Six of the eight top

Joseph Biden (DE) could not attend due to scheduling conflicts.[3]

Logo also invited Republican Party candidates, but they declined or did not respond to the invitation.[4]

Several LGBT figures and allies attended the forum, including actress

Noah's Arc’s Darryl Stephens, Doug Spearman, and Wilson Cruz; writer-director Nora Ephron; and actor Neil Patrick Harris
.

Highlights

Melissa Etheridge, one of the three panelists at the forum, asked Gov. Bill Richardson, "Do you think homosexuality is a choice or is it biological?" Richardson responded, "It's a choice." Etheridge restated the question: "Do you think a homosexual is born that way, or do you think that around seventh grade we go, 'Oh, I want to be gay'?" Richardson replied, "Well, I'm not a scientist."[5]

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton faced scrutiny from gay advocates when she was asked by Joe Solmonese about her opposition to

Southern Baptist background, he opposed same-sex marriage. Edwards stated "I shouldn’t have said that."[6]

In contrast to the leading Democratic candidates' support for civil unions with all rights similar to marriage, only Representative Dennis Kucinich and former Senator Mike Gravel stated their support for same-sex marriage.[7]

On

gays in the military, Senator Clinton claimed that the creation of the "Don’t Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the administration of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was initially meant to prevent a "witch hunt" for gays and lesbians in the military.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Johnson, T. "Dems debate gay issues on Logo". Variety. 10 July 2007. Retrieved on 29 January 2008
  2. The Advocate
    . 11 August 2007. Retrieved on 6 March 2008.
  3. ^ "HRC, Logo to host candidate forum." Associated Press, Gay.com, 10 July 2007. Retrieved on 26 January 2008
  4. ^ a b Crowley, C. "Democratic hopefuls pressed on gay issues at forum." CNN, 10 August 2007. Retrieved on 28 January 2008
  5. ^ Tapper, J. "Dems Court the Gay Vote." ABC News, 10 August 2007. Retrieved on 27 January 2008
  6. ^
    New York Times
    , 10 August 2007. Retrieved on 30 January 2008.
  7. ^ Helman, S. "At forum, six Democrats grilled on gay marriage." The Boston Globe, 10 August 2007. Retrieved on 26 January 2008.

External links

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