Debate Focuses on GLBT Issues
Update [2007-8-9 11:48:16 by Ross Smith]:The format, each candidate alone on stage for 15 minutes at a time, is closer to an interview than to a debate. Chris Dodd and Joe Biden have "scheduling conflicts" and will not attend. Pam Spaulding has more.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) reminder:
On Aug. 9, presidential candidates will gather in Los Angeles for a forum on issues affecting the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the United States. Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, Melissa Etheridge and esteemed journalist Jonathan Capehart will appear as panelists at the event.The historic two-hour forum, moderated by Margaret Carlson, will be televised live on the Logo network and the Logo website on Thursday, Aug. 9, starting at 6 p.m. Pacific time and 9 p.m. Eastern.
Joe Biden is the only Democratic candidate who will not attend.
Mid-July produced a mini-drama when Mike Gravel complained he had not been invited despite having positions more supportive of the GLBT community than the other candidates. The HRC had said he did not meet a $100,000 fundraising threshold (a miniscule amount in terms of presidential politics). But GLBT activist bloggers prevailed and the HRC reversed its decision. For links to the arguments about Gravel's inclusion and other previews of the debate go to del.icio.us and enter "debatescoop GLBT" in the search box (without the quote marks).
