Democrats across region rally behind Obama

With the general election less than two months away, Democrats and LGBT activists across the region have pulled out all the stops in support of Barack Obama.

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn joined state Sen. Tom Duane [D-Chelsea], state Assemblyman Micah Kellner [D-Upper East Side], New York Congressman Anthony Weiner, New York City Councilwoman Rosie Mendez [D-Lower East Side] and other local LGBT elected officials and activists at a rally at City Hall in lower Manhattan on Sept. 7 to express their support for the Democratic presidential contender. New York's Democratic machine has unified behind Obama following the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Quinn was quick to stress she feels he will continue to support LGBT Americans and the issues about which they care in the White House.

"[He] will be an agent of change and a constant ally of our community," she said.

The Out People of Color Political Action Committee [POCPAC] was the first New York LGBT political organization to endorse Obama's candidacy. It made the endorsement in February, but OutPOCPAC co-president Doug Robinson told EDGE in a recent interview he feels the convention unified Democrats after a long and often contentious primary campaign.

"It was stated we're all on board... to get Barack elected," he said. "It is so important we don't have John McCain elected and have eight more years of Bush-Cheney policies."

Robinson is also coordinating bus trips to Pennsylvania to help organize Obama supporters and register potential voters. OutPOCPAC members will also conduct voter registration drives in Harlem and other New York neighborhoods. Robinson conceded some LGBT people of color may not have fully understood Obama's positions. He maintains, however, his record on LGBT issues remains strong.

"We will have a friend in the White House come January who will speak to our issues," Robinson said.

Ray Murphy, co-chair of Liberty City Democrats in Philadelphia, agreed. His organization has organized two bar crawls to register potential voters ahead of the Commonwealth's Oct. 6 deadline. Liberty City members will also reach out to people of color at a popular gay bar in North Philadelphia. Murphy stressed he feels the convention energized Democrats and LGBT Philadelphians alike.

"It was inspiring and the mention of LGBT folks in the presence of LGBT folks at the convention... is really different than what we've seen," he said. "This will be a transformative election for our country."

New Jersey Democrats have also rallied behind Obama. Garden State Equality will sponsor a day-long training session to support Obama and local Congressional candidates alongside BlueWaveNJ PAC and the state's Democratic State Committee at Montclair State University on Sept. 13. Governor Jon Corzine and Newark Mayor Cory Booker are among those expected to speak. [Editor's note: See EDGE's coverage of this training next week.]

Richard Burns, executive director of the LGBT Community Center in Manhattan, was quick to point out a number of local races, such as those for surrogate and probate court in New York, are on the ballot in addition to the presidential contest. Control of the New York State Senate is also up for grabs.

The Center, like OutPOCPAC, plans to register LGBT New Yorkers to vote through its Promote the Vote project. Volunteers have distributed 3,000 boxes around the city in stores, offices, social service agencies and bars. The deadline to register to vote in New York is Oct. 10, but Burns said potential voters understand the implications of this election at all levels of government.

"We've got a month here in New York and across the country to register every queer person we know," he said.

Murphy agreed.

"So many of the things we care about aren't determined at the federal level," he said.