LGBT Media Moves to the Forefront in Pennsylvania Primary

As presidential hopefuls vie for the vote in the upcoming Pennsylvania primary, the Philadelphia Gay News invited the candidates to an interview about their positions on LGBT issues.  Sen. Hillary Clinton accepted the invitation and spoke at length with the newspaper about her stances on legislation that would affect LGBT lives. Clinton explained that she would eliminate the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, oppose foreign governments that persecute gay people, support federal domestic partner legislation, advocate for support services for gay youth as well as take part in gay pride celebrations. Additionally, though she supports states’ ability to define marriage, Clinton explained that she would oppose a Pennsylvania ballot measure prohibiting marriage for gay and lesbian people. “I would be very distressed if Pennsylvania were to adopt that kind of mean-spirited referendum and I hope it won’t happen,” she said.

Clinton’s interview with the Philadelphia Gay News and the Associated Press’s report about it again reinforce the growing visibility and importance of LGBT media in the 2008 election and the willingness of candidates to discuss the issues that matter to LGBT Americans.  However, both Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama declined to talk with the Gay News.  The paper responded to Obama’s refusal by printing a blank space in its pages where his interview would have appeared.  While not unusual for McCain, this decision marks a change for the Obama campaign, which has worked to reach out to the LGBT community by placing advertisements in Texas and Ohio, engaging issues that matter to LGBT voters in speeches and forums, and other outreach efforts.  As the Democratic primary continues to move forward, the role of LGBT issues – and LGBT media – will hopefully continue to play a meaningful role in shaping voter decisions.