Haha. The next President of the United States of America.

As much as I am inspired by this HISTORIC election I get just as crazy and depressed. I just have to comment on the most recent political circus show.

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AP-Los Angeles, CA

"Mark Segal, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News, said, "Senator [Barack] Obama's lack of dialogue with the local gay press is disappointing. The local gay press often is to the LGBT community what churches are to the black community."

Despite concerted efforts, Senator Barack Obama has not granted a formal interview to the Philadelphia Gay News. PGN, now in its 32nd year and the nation's most-honored LGBT newspaper, is taking the unusual step of displaying Obama's lack of communication to the local LGBT press, leaving blank space on the newspaper's front page where Obama's interview would have appeared, illustrating his lack of accessibility to the local gay press. Obama has not granted a formal interview to any local gay press in 1,522 days, when he spoke to the Windy City Times during his Senate race in 2004."

Space for his interview will remain available in PGN until the Pennsylvania primary on April 22. "We hope he takes us up on the offer," said Segal.

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First, to directly negate Mr. Segal's claim, Barack Obama has done interviews with Gay City News, Advocate, and a litany of other gay-oriented newspapers.

Second, does anyone here realize how many interview requests each of the candidates get a day? How is it a personal effrontery to the entire community if Obama turns down an interview with a LGBT street rag full of escort/bathhouse ads? And why does the Philadelphia Gay News think they're owed an interview with any candidate?

Barack Obama was the first to accept HRC/Logo's invitation to speak on a national platform regarding LGBT issues. He has taken full page ads (given money BACK to our community) reaching out the the LGBT community in cities through out the US. He spoke out on behalf of "gay and lesbian brothers and sisters" to a congregation on MLK Day. He has dedicated an entire section to our community on his website. Can someone explain to me how he personally is anti-gay?

If Hills wants to cite her husband's 8 years in office she's going to have to take responsibility for DOMA and Don't Ask Don't Tell. She's going to have to explain her lack of an LGBT stance on her website. She is going to have to explain her own involvement with "The Family's American" branch along side right-wing politicos, Sam Brownback, John Ashcroft and Rick Santorum. (look into it) That's about as anti-gay as it gets.

As progressives I truly think we're all on the same side here but just get the facts and track history right.

-W