WTF : Nearly one-quarter of lesbian, gay, and bisexual voters went for W

[jefferson_dem]

Interesting article from TNR --

According to exit polls, nearly a quarter of lesbian, gay, and bisexual voters--23 percent--cast their ballots for George W. Bush. What were they thinking?

After all, this is the president who, as part of his game of footsie with the religious right, has declared same-sex marriage such a threat to civilization that we need to ban it via a constitutional amendment. He wants federally funded faith-based organizations to be free to fire lesbians and gay men who might otherwise pollute those groups' services to the poor. Recently, in The Advocate (the national lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, or LGBT, newsweekly), The Daily Show's Jon Stewart said that gay Republicans are like "Retarded Death Row Inmates for Bush"--that is, folks not quite clear on their own interests.

Yes, I laughed too. But here's the thing: Bush winning 23 percent of the gay, lesbian, and bisexual vote isn't all that surprising. And the inclination to find it surprising rests on a fundamental misunderstanding of the gay and lesbian community.

LGBT voters aren't like any other interest group. Aside from being attracted to the same sex, we have nothing in common. And I mean nothing: not our color, religion, region, culture, community, class, educational aspirations, or politics. You've probably seen those census reports showing that we live in every zip code in the nation; and our sociopolitical outlook is every bit as varied as those of our neighbors. As this county by county map of same-sex couples shows, the lesbian and gay population is not particularly concentrated in blue states; that's just where we feel comfortable enough to be noisiest. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual voters were raised in Kansas, Florida, and New York; by blacks, whites, and Hispanics; by Protestants, Catholics, and Jews; in households rich, middle-class, and poor. Many of us didn't figure out which way our hearts were leaning until age 17, or 21, or 25--long after we were imbued with the basic worldview by which we assess political candidates.

Sure, some of us get chased out of the American interior and become flaming queens on Castro Street or hard-core butch girls on the Lower East side, where our politics are then reshaped by a new community. But others stay in Alabama and support their mothers in old age--with a "roommate" whose real status is understood but never mentioned--and continue to see the political world through that geographic and social lens. The Rapid City, South Dakota, lesbian moms whose idea of a big Friday night is to get all dolled up for the greyhound races and a meal at Denny's simply do not have the same political point of view as Dupont Circle lobbyists or Berkeley activists. This becomes clear when you break down gay votes by region. In the South, for instance, 32 percent of lesbian, gay, and bisexual voters went for Bush; in the East, a far less surprising 8 percent did.

<SNIP>

http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=express&s=graff110804

Also, GOHERE if necessary http://bugmenot.com/

[mzmolly]

1. O.M.G!

:wow:

[greenman3610]

2. and if you add in all the closeted

fundamentalists, maybe the percent is closer
to 40 or 50

[DrWeird]

3. Well, Kerry was against gay marriage.

nt

[ecstatic]

20. exactly

There was little or no difference between the parties on gay issues.

[GOPNotForMe]

35. that is beyond incorrect

[katinmn]

4. masochists?

[Sara Beverley]

27. No. You have to realize that gays are not a monolithic group. They are

grouped together because of sexual preference, not by social or political beliefs or even religious beliefs. I have in my family some very socially concerned gays (two). And I have one, biggoted, racist fanatical whose group of gay associates are just like him, some even more evil. We make a mistake if we think they are all liberal or even victims. Many do a lot of victimizing themselves and are self-hating and act and work against other gays. The race thing is huge in some parts of the gay community. Others are every bit the corporate whores that we claim our politicians are. Some have worked their way up the corporate ladder just like some women...under the sheets. Yeah, I know, how could I say such a thing. Well, I know for a fact that the boardrooms are loaded with closeted "proteges" and mentors. OK, enough you say. My point is that we misjudge gays as well as Christians by lumping them altogether. We need to become more informed ourselves and more wise about the causes and people we champion. Believe me, there are quite a few gays who don't even like us and what we stand for. And before you flame me, my brother is gay. And a nicer more gentle person would be hard to find.

[Sapphocrat]

30. So what you're saying is...

We're just like you.

[Sara Beverley]

33. yep!

anything wrong with that? Only our sexual preferences and a few chromosomes in different places.

[Sapphocrat]

34. Nope...

Not a thing wrong with that. Anything that reminds people that we're just as diverse -- and that most of us unbelievably boring and normal -- as straight folks is MORE than welcome.

[demodonkey]

5. Absolute Fools -- IF that is really how they voted.

n/t

[krkaufman]

6. What gets me is....

Why are all the media harping on all these exit poll breakdowns, as though the numbers mean anything -- when they are all saying that the exit polls were wrong about Florida, Ohio, etc?

If the exit polls are inaccurate, then all the data is inaccurate. One should *not* be able to pick-and-choose.

[jefferson_dem]

13. Touche. Point taken. Funny how it's those who poo-poo the faulty exit

polls who also herald the fact that 22% said "moral values" was the #1 issue this election. I trust them, for better or worse.

[ibegurpard]

37. Agreed

And how do they know whether people are gay or not? Do they ask them?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

7. gay people can be greedy too...and stupid!

[Siyahamba]

31. Interesting how gay Republicans all tend to be well-off

They've got everything they need - who cares about anyone else, right?

[Uzybone]

8. This is a good question

before the election I kept seeing posts about blacks voting for Bush. Well once again Kerry got 90% of the black vote. I didnt see a single one questioning gay voters who have more at stake. If we got 90% of the gay vote we would be winners today.

[still_one]

9. And for that reason alone the Democrats should let the repugs

have the gay ammendment constitution issue

In other words, call their bluf, don't fight it

Fight other battles

[Misunderestimator]

14. Oh please... you're telling me that I should LET them HAVE the gay

amendment issue because some questionable polls say that 1/4 of us voted for Bush? Right... You've made such a great argument, I think I'll just supplicate for their acceptance right now and give in to their agenda. Thanks. I feel better already.

[rockydem]

10. That's the way it's always been

Log Cabin pubbies...

[aquart]

11. 77% went for Kerry? SEVENTY-SEVEN PERCENT?

I dunno. That seems like a fairly large amount.

[Eric J in MN]

24. Good point. We should be grateful for 77 percent

instead of puzzling over the other 23%.

[devilgrrl]

12. Queers for Gay Bashing...

Blacks for the KKK, Jews for Hitler, etc.

[JVS]

15. And what was the level of support for DOM amendments?

[donheld]

16. I hate gay repuglicans

I'm HomoRepuglicanphobic

i have a harder time with the gay repugican's more thatn straight repuglicans. As a gayman myself i just don't understand their thinking.

[queerart]

22. THANK YOU!

[DELUSIONAL]

17. Let me get this straight

First we are not supposed to believe the exit polls showed the election was won by Kerry --

Now the exit polling is correct about who non-straights voted for?

More propaganda -- but this campaign was well planned.

[gristy]

18. I'm not surprised

Many factors swing people's vote one way or another. The gay issue clearly wasn't a deal breaker for those 25%.

[ecstatic]

19. I'm one of those who think its a good thing

For groups to be diverse. I'm Black and I don't have a problem with Blacks spreading out and joining the Republicans because that keeps both parties on their toes. Do I think those voters are ignorant and misinformed? Of course, but you can't expect everyone of a certain group to vote the same way. Also, it makes it harder for the Repugs to run on bigoted values (Bush & Co. couldn't bash gays because Cheney's own daughter is gay!).

[Raskolnik]

21. Sometimes people would rather have a tax cut than civil rights.

That seems to be the only explanation.

[americanwomanone]

23. Maybe they think he can change their minds?

[Carl Brennan]

25. How come I never see gays confronting each other over this?? nt

Topic on Conservative gays: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=807561

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

26. I confront Log Cabiners all the time

The problem is that many gay community centers are dependent on Log Cabin Repubs for donations to do their work within the community such as coordinating health care and other charity for AIDS patients, as well as functions to support those addicted to alcohol and drugs. The vast majority of the gay community is fairly liberal but they walk on eggshells around the Log Cabin folks.

There's also LOTS of ex military in the gay community and for the most part from what I have seen, they lean Repub as well.

[greekspeak]

29. We do.

I was a member of a gay college organization, and we had two members in my time there that were republicans and conservative politically. One was from a filthy rich family and spewed RW talking points all the time. He didn't last in the group very long, because those views got challenged. His money was more important than his soul.

The other was about the biggest hypocrite I ever met. He was black and gay, but he was a conservative evangelical who went to a conservative evangelical school in town. Like the other guy, he didn't like people in the group challenging his dogma. He stayed around a lot longer that the other guy, and led a double life, walking a line between his politics and religion on one side, and his race and sexual orientation on the other. He was another spoiled rich kid who thought his sh*t didn't stink.

[sonicx]

28. if i were a gay conservative...

and could absolutely NOT vote for Kerry...i'd vote libertarian.

[orpupilofnature57]

32. I ask my lesbian sister how?And she says why not?

Its a contradiction,in terms and philosophy for the gay community to separate it self from the democratic party.As far as whats his name winning in the south,a grudge against themselves.

[Divine Discontent]

36. VOMIT ON MY SHIRT

someone mentioned, "well maybe they had other issued that decided their choice" (paraphrasing)

SORRY, but CIVIL RIGHTS for who you are, is more important than anything. any gay/lesbian that voted for Dumbya hates themselves, just like Liz Edwards said that Lynne Cheney must be ashamed of her daughter. There is a lot of self hate unfortunately, because of how they are treated from when they realize they're gay. Some NEVER admit it to themselves or do it so late (one friend was 50!!!) that they're really messed up. :(

Damn bigots.