Member Since: 1/21/2008
Posts: 3,607
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US voters would elect a gay president, poll says
Quote:
A poll conducted by Zogby International has found that over 60% of American voters would support an openly-gay president, and more would support an openly gay cabinet secretary.
Zogby International, on behalf of the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute (GLLI) surveyed 1,089 American adults from 13-15th August.
Chuck Wolfe, president of GLLI, said:
“These results prove that most Americans want to be fair to gay people.
"Our aspiration is to always see each other as individuals first, and though we may not always succeed at that, our underlying fairness and decency means that one day soon we will.
"This marks tremendous progress for our community and for the voting public,”
The poll revealed particular support for idea of a gay presidential candidate, provided they were suited to the job, amongst people between the ages of 18 and 24, people living in the east of the US, Democratic voters, Asian-Americans, and Jewish voters.
Similar levels of support was recorded for openly gay candidates for other government positions.
67% of voters would support an openly-gay vice president, 69% would support a gay senator, and 71% would support a gay cabinet-level secretary.
The poll results come in the wake of increased gay visibility within US politics.
Last week, Jared Polis won his Democratic primary, and will now go on to a general election to represent Colorado's second Congressional District in the House of Representatives.
As a Democrat in a predominantly Democratic area, Polis is expected to win.
If he does win, he will become the first ever out gay man elected to the U.S. Congress as a non-incumbent.
In the same week, Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Representative for Wisconsin, claimed that the Democratic platform will contain an "historic" demand for gay rights.
Ms Baldwin, an out lesbian, is a member of the committee drafting the document.
The platform will now go on to the Democratic National Convention for approval by delegates.
Ms Baldwin said the platform will oppose the U.S. military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, and that this would be the first instance of gay rights being enshrined in a political platform.
Ms Baldwin is also a co-chair of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's new National LGBT Steering and Policy Committee, a body that seeks to reach out to the gay and lesbian community.
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Uh, wow, that's surprising. I wasn't expecting that at all.
