GenQ - For the not so straight individual

From Chris Pycroft, Generation Q Associate Producer AU

Senators Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton, John Edwards and Mike Gravel along with Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Governor Bill Richardson on Thursday evening took part in a forum that has never been hosted in US political history; a forum focused entirely on issues involving the American gay and lesbian community.

Each of the six presidential candidates, all of whom are Democrats, were invited on stage for fifteen minutes to individually answer questions from a panel which consisted of journalists Jonathan Capehart and Margaret Carlson, singer Melissa Etheridge and Joe Solmonese, the executive director for HRC.

The forum signaled progression for gay rights in the United States, with all candidates stating that members of the GLBT community should be entitled to full civil rights. It was also unanimously agreed upon that the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy should be abolished, as well as having changes made to the Defense of Marriage Act.

The only candidate likely to be negatively affected following the forum was Senator Edwards, who was the only candidate to provide negative comments, reiterating that he still did not support gay marriage.

Current leading candidates, Senators Obama and Clinton, are likely to keep their current popularity figures (if not have an increase), following comments from Senator Clinton on the “assault� from presidents and republicans against the GLBT community; “That will end. That is over�, and comments from Senator Obama emphasizing gay issues should be regularly discussed with all audiences and not just the GLBT community.

GenQ will begin to provide in-depth coverage of these political candidates in the coming months, when GQ World launches at the end of August 2007.

Photo Credit: Kevork Djansezian, AP