By The Numbers: Who Is The Democratic Congress Ignoring?

[NMMNG]

From Pam's House Blend

This year, when the Democratic Party controlled Congress can't get an ENDA or an LGBT inclusive hate crimes bill to the president's desk, it's important to consider exactly how many Democratic LGBT voters there are, and how often they vote. Here's some numbers and percentages taken from a some organizations and publications:

<snip>

The Century Foundation (from 2007):

A recently released study found that a phenomenal 92.5 percent of gay men and 91 percent of lesbians voted in the 2004 presidential election, and 82.4 percent of gay men and 78 percent of lesbians voted in the 2006 midterm elections. As the Los Angeles Times noted, that compares with an overall turnout of about 61 percent in 2004 and a 40 percent turnout in 2006. The financial participation of gay Americans in politics is also remarkable. This same study found that 40 percent of gay men and 31 percent of lesbians gave money to a political party within the year-compared with 7 percent of Americans overall. (In the run up to the 2008 election, the lion's share of donations to candidates is going to Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.)


DiversityInc (from 2007):

LGBT voters are an extremely strong voting bloc, a group comprised of people who are far more likely to vote than the general population, says the Gay & Lesbian Consumer Index. The survey shows that 92.5 percent of gay respondents and 90.7 percent of lesbian respondents report that they voted in the 2004 presidential election. Likewise, in the mid-term election in 2006, 83.8 percent of gays report that they voted, as did 78 percent of lesbians.

The percentages greatly outpace those of the straight population. In the 2004 presidential election, 64 percent voted and 40 percent voted in the 2006 mid-term election.

"The general population is made up of lots of groups, and yes, the gay and lesbian population is smaller than the total population," concedes Jerry McHugh, senior director of research for San Francisco-based Community Marketing Inc., which conducted the survey. "But we calculated that 9.8 million gay and lesbian people voted in 2004, and according to the U.S. census, 125 million people voted, so 7.8 percent were gay and lesbian."

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Full Text



I suppose it doesn't matter how strong our voting bloc is, it will never be as important to the Democrats as certain other groups.

[JackBeck]

1. 9.8 million votes

are more than enough to change the outcome of an election.

But then again, if we were to sit out an election by withholding our money and votes, we'd be blamed for losing another election for the Democrats.

[NMMNG]

5. Indeed they are

But we're not important enough to pander to because they assume we aren't going to vote Republican, and don't have the cajones to sit out the election. Therefore all we'll do is hold our noses and vote for the people who keep throwing us under the bus time after time.

[Maven]

2. Amazing how they'll keep pandering to those other groups, though, isn't it?

As though their votes are worth more.

K/R

[NMMNG]

6. Yep

You can almost hear them saying to us, "Whatta ya gonna do, vote Republican?"

[terrya]

3. I think a 7% voting bloc is pretty damned significant.

Particularly when it comes to raising money for the candidates. This community has raised a shitload of money for the Democrats over the years. I know I opened up my checkbook quite a bit for Bill Clinton in 1992. And well...can we say the results were a bit mixed?

This community has been pretty consistent when it comes to voting for Democrats. Really...does the Log Cabin people have more influence at the ballot box than we do?

And for what...it's almost criminal that a piece of legislation, like ENDA, STILL isn't law.

This is an excellent article. I'm glad you posted it.

[NMMNG]

7. Sadly it isn't significant enough

Not when the bigot voice and vote is out there to be won. Perhaps if homosexuality were declared a religion we might get some real respect around here.

[xchrom]

4. i've given and voted in every election since nixon.

and i'm so angry i could spit nails.

between that donnie character and enda -- it's just very disappointing.

[NMMNG]

8. McClurkin, ENDA and now the Hate Crimes Bill

I'm just so fed up I don't know what to do. :banghead:


And some Christians think they're persecuted.

[xchrom]

9. it's very frustrating -- and no where to go with the feelings.

i vote democratic for one reason only -- the safety of the lives of lgbtq folk.

safety -- safety -- is that asking too much?

i mean we can live without anything else -- but not safety.

[NMMNG]

10. The Democratic Party

The Lesser of Two Evils (at least when it comes to LGBT issues). Sadly that's the best we have right now.

[xchrom]

11. we certainly have nothing proactive to show for all the money and support.

way to throw a dog a bone.

[JackBeck]

12. And to go one step more

Not only should we hold the Dems feet to the fire, we need to start holding organizations like HRC responsible for their failure in lobbying efforts.

[xchrom]

13. boy am i with you on that -- and i've given to HRC all

the while complaining about some their ''efforts''.

[NMMNG]

14. I finally stopped my montly donations to HRC

right after they waffled on inclusive ENDA. I've had it with them.