Raising visibility and diversity: Obama's LGBT outreach call and commitment to the community
by: Pam Spaulding
Sun Jun 08, 2008 at 08:30:00 AM EDT



On Friday, Barack Obama's campaign held a conference call for about 1200 bloggers, media and LGBT community members to discuss its outreach efforts for the general election. I was invited to be on the impromptu call, but it coincided right when I was on a flight. The good news is Andrew Belonsky of Queerty was on and blogged it.

What's notable is that Obama deputy campaign director, Steve Hildebrand, acknowledged Hillary Clinton voters' participation and importance in the primary process.

Well, none of that is very surprising. I imagine any of us would do the same in the same position Barack is in. My heart wanted Hillary to get the nomination, not because she is a Clinton, but definitely because she's the first woman to mount a legitimately viable campaign and was best on issues i find important to me, imo.

Well, she didn't win, but, I also supported Jesse in '88 for many of the same reasons, except sex, obviously. Obama is Jeese's legacy in many ways. 20 years down the road and we have a superior candidate for president who is also African-American and with such a nearness to The Continent and to our continent as well. Perhaps we won't have to wait so long for a woman as we did for an African-American.

As for Pam's plea that African-American LTBGs be visible in Obama's campaign; I'd be absolutely thrilled if she and Monica Roberts were able to be situated in pretty high-profile positions. I think Pam is absolutely correct about the reasons LBGT people of African ancestry do not present more visibly, and also right about how that possible exile from their 'racial' community makes it possible to believe that 'there are no LTBGs who are African-Americans.' I've intimately known way too many who are in that predicament.

Thanks for the link, Z.

N~