The GLBT community is just as important to the Democratic party as the African American community [View All]

[ruggerson]

Whether Democrats want to admit it or not.

First of all, we vote in numbers that are roughly half of the AA community.

Gays and lesbians are 4-5% of the national vote (probably higher as many will not self-identify to an exit pollster).

African Americans are 10%.

As groups, we both vote overwhelmingly Democratic.

(There is also a very sizable group that belongs to both populations at once: GLBT people of color.)

In a country that is evenly divided, where elections are decided by 1 or 2 percent, the Democratic party cannot afford to have either community vote Republican, third party or sit at home.

So, to all those trying to portray the gay and lesbian voting bloc as just another insignificant interest group, you couldn't be more wrong.

African Americans demand certain things of democratic presidential candidates, as well they should.

Gays and lesbians demand certain things of democratic presidential candidates, as well they should.

The conflict arises, because there is a certain segment of the African American community, the evangelical churchgoing community, that is at odds with the gay and lesbian community seeking equal status in this country. They agitate against marriage equality, they march against marriage equality and they are told lies about gays and lesbians every Sunday from the pulpit.

So, a dilemma for Democratic candidates. How to handle this demographically important part of the African American vote?

One would hope with wise and moral leadership.

The lowest threshold should be that NO Democratic presidential candidate should ever exploit racist or anti-gay sentiment to gain votes from a racist or anti-gay constituency.

That's the very minimum we should expect from our candidates. And if they violate that, we have every right to hammer at them until they stop doing it.