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Clinton steals the show at the Democratic National Convention

The Georgia Voice Editors
Politics
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Former President Bill Clinton

Former President Bill Clinton stuck mostly to economic issues during his speech last night at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Clinton, along with Massachusetts U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, ignited the crowd ahead of the official presidential nomination process.

Clinton's speech, some 48 minutes long, stayed away from social issues like abortion and same-sex marriage rights.

Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney and his running-mate Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wi.) were the targets of much of Clinton's speech, which hit back at the GOP ticket by dissecting the Republican positions on health care and taxes.

Democrats offer stark contrast on gay rights at convention

The Georgia Voice Editors
Politics
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First Lady Michelle Obama

The Democratic National Convention is underway in Charlotte. Democrats from across the country have gathered to officially nominate President Barack Obama and to drum up support before the fall election season gets underway.

First Lady Michelle Obama stole the show during her closing speech last night. She talked about her husband, the couples' history and continuing his vision ahead of the November election. There were some laughs but mostly a touching account of the couple before, during and after the last presidential election.

The first lady also recognized the ongoing struggle for marriage equality:

Gay Atlantans rub elbows with President Obama

The Georgia Voice Editors
Atlanta
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images/stories/6-26-12/obama.jpg

Using words like "wow" and "cool" and "really, really neat," several gay Atlantans who met  President Barack Obama today during his fundraising stop in the city described the experience as unlike any other.

"The whole experience was like, 'wow,'" said Glen Paul Freedman, chair of the Atlanta Police LGBT Advisory Board who said he got a ticket to the event from someone who could not make it.

That ticket was a special one, too, because it meant Freedman, a politico who works with Lisa Borders at the Grady Health Foundation, got to shake hands with the president and have his photo made with him.

"Even though it took less than a minute he was so relaxed and shook my hand and said he was glad to meet me. All I could say is thank you and it was an honor to meet you," Freedman said.

Still gay in the GOP?

The Georgia Voice Editors
Community
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Still gay in the GOP

Lower taxes, more personal freedom and less government interference in the lives of Americans are the core principles of the Republican Party. At least, that’s what the GOP says. According to critics, including many LGBT people, what it does once in power is actually very different.

The anti-gay charge in recent years has been led by conservative groups, often with religious ties, like the National Organization for Marriage, the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family. These groups overwhelmingly support GOP candidates in local and national elections.

Republicans know a large portion of their base view homosexuality as inherently sinful. They also know to get elected, they have to sell their conservatism as well as their religious credentials.

[Video] Politics and butt plugs — how do the GOP candidates stand up?

The Georgia Voice Editors
Politics
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images/stories/5-15-12/buttplugs.jpg

Who knew GOP presidential candidate approval ratings could lead to awesome, artistic sex toys?

Well, one ingenious man, Matthew Epler, has done just that, according to the blog Queerty. He's taken the approval ratings of former candidates Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry and the man expected to receive the nomination, Mitt Romney, and shaped them into some hefty and not so hefty butt plugs.

[Video] The best reaction to Romney’s response to Gingrich’s presidential pull out

The Georgia Voice Editors
Politics
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Newt Gingrich FINALLY suspended his GOP presidential bid today amid dreams of moon colonies and hating on Barack Obama.

Gingrich didn't explicitly endorse his opponent, Mitt Romney, in his farewell speech/lecture today. (A full endorsement is forthcoming, apparently.) But Romney apparently tried to play nice, even though he and Gingrich are as likely friends in real life as Sharon Needles is with, well, any other drag queen who gets in her way.

Romney tweeted this after Newt's farewell speech today:

 .@NewtGingrich has brought creativity and intellectual vitality to American political life. Proud to call him a friend.

Newt Gingrich: Affairs make me seem ‘normal’

The Georgia Voice Editors
Politics
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Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich's victory in South Carolina surprised many in the media, myself included, because we assumed that the GOP electorate would not be able to look beyond the former Speaker of the House's ethical probes, his forced banishment from House of Representatives and the fact that he's had more than one marriage end because of an affair.

Boy, was I wrong. Not only did Newt storm ahead in one of evangelical America's strongholds, he's leading the polls in the next primary contest, a decidedly less religiously-driven Florida.

How has Gingrich managed to make the GOP's voters forget (or choose to ignore) his sordid past?

In a recent interview with the Christian Broadcast Network, Gingrich says his appeal is all about redemption.

National Gay History Project highlights LGBT people among nation’s founders

The Georgia Voice Editors
National
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James Buchanan

James Buchanan: America’s first gay president?

More than 150 years before America elected its first black president, Barack Obama, it most likely had its first gay president, James Buchanan (1791-1868).

Buchanan, a Democrat from Lancaster County, Pa., was the 15th president of the United States, and a lifelong bachelor. He served as president from 1857-61, tumultuous years leading up to the Civil War.

Donald Trump courts Christian votes on CBN

The Georgia Voice Editors
Politics
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Donald Trump opposes same-sex marriage

Real estate mogul and possible Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump recently appeared on the 700 Club in a taped interview segment. Trump discussed “radical” Islam, abortion and of course, his opposition to same-sex marriage.

Touting his conservatism, Trump claims to be pro-life and oppose same-sex marriage in the interview, which appears on the Christian Broadcasting Network.

Explaining his stance on same-sex marriage, Trump acknowledges his position is not popular with his fellow New Yorkers:

“First of all, I live in New York. I know many, many gay people. Tremendous people. And to be honest with you, as far as civil unions are concerned, I haven't totally formed my opinion," Trump says in the interview. “But there can be no discrimination against gays. I'm against gay marriage, I took a lot of heat for that.”

Newt Gingrich readies presidential bid?

The Georgia Voice Editors
Politics
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Newt Gingrich a possible presidential candidate

Former Speaker of the House, serial divorcer and former Georgia resident Newt Gingrich announced today that he is considering a run at the White House in 2012, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Gingrich has set up a website, www.newtexplore2012.com, in an effort to judge interest in his possible candidacy and has begun to register supporters.

“We are excited about exploring whether there is sufficient support for my potential candidacy for president of this exceptional country,” the website reads.

Gingrich also expressed an interest in running for the presidency in the past, though he never fielded a primary campaign. Gingrich has been considered a probable candidate in 2012 since the 2008 general election.

President Obama responds to gay Ugandan slaying

The Georgia Voice Editors
Politics
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President Barack Obama issued a statement today regarding the killing of Ugandan gay activist David Kato, who was beaten to death late Wednesday night. Kato, according to the Associated Press, worked for Sexual Minorities Uganda, a gay-rights advocacy group.

According to the AP, local police said that Kato's sexual orientation was not a factor in his murder, but last year, Kato appeared in the Ugandan newspaper Rolling Stone with a number of other allegedly gay men next to a headline that read, "Hang Them!"

Here's Obama's statement on Kato's death: