This past week was historic for the nation as Sen. Obama become the first African-American presidential nominee of a major party at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. With all eyes glued to the happenings in Denver, you may have missed some of the great recent posts. So, here is a quick recap of the best that LGBT for Obama had to offer in the last week
Our friend Joe Sudbay of AmericaBlog spent a few minutes talking with Arizona State Representative Kyrsten Sinema about John McCain’s record on LGBT civil rights. Let’s just say that Rep. Sinema is not impressed.
Rep. Sinema helped to defeat the proposed anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment in Arizona in 2006.
McCain is on record as supporting the proposed anti-gay marriage amendments that will be on the ballot in Arizona, California and Florida.
Sen. Obama is on record as opposing each of these divisive and harmful anti-gay amendments.
The Human Rights Campaign just released this amazing video of LGBT people who have known Sen. Obama over the years talking about the experiences in working with and getting to know Sen. Obama and Michelle.
Barack Obama officially became the Democratic nominee for President tonight after Hillary Clinton interrupted a roll call vote to lead a motion nominate him by acclamation. Obama has officially become the first African-American presidential nominee of a major party in U.S. history.
Sen. Hillary Clinton delivered a powerful speech and a ringing endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama last night at the Democratic Convention. Her speech will go a long way towards unifying the Democratic Party and focusing our sights on a crucial goal: electing Barack Obama as our next president.
Hillary Rodham Clinton summoned the millions of voters who supported her in the primaries to send Barack Obama to the White House Tuesday night, and drew thunderous applause at the Democratic National Convention when she declared her one-time rival is “my candidate and he must be our president.”
“We don’t have a moment to lose or a vote to spare,” said the former first lady, writing the final chapter in a quest for the White House every bit as pioneering as Obama’s own.
The packed convention floor became a sea of white “Hillary” signs as the New York senator _ Obama’s fiercest rival across 56 primaries and caucuses _ strode to the podium for her prime-time speech. The signs were soon replaced others that read simply, “Unity.”
Here is a short video of reactions by women in Denver to Sen. Clinton’s speech:
The family of Ryan Skipper, a 25-year-old gay man from Winter Haven, Florida who was killed last year in a brutal hate crime, is speaking out and fighting for change. Skipper was found stabbed to death on March 15, 2007. He had been stabbed twenty times and his body was dumped by the side of the road. His killers drove around in his blood-soaked car, bragging how they had killed a gay man. The murders- William David Brown Jr., 20, and Joseph Bearden, 21- were charged with first-degree murder and will be going on trial separately in October 2008 and Feb 2009. You can find out more about the horrific crime in the amazing documentary ACCESSORY TO MURDER: Our Culture’s Complicity in the Death of Ryan Skipper (view the film’s trailer after the jump)
The family of Ryan Skipper has become outspoken advocates for stronger federal hate crimes legislation, as well as traveling the country to speak on the need for acceptance of LGBT people. They have been active in lobbying for the Matthew Shepard Act, which seeks to add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing federal hate crime laws. The law currently includes only race, religion, ethnicity and nationality.
Their work for stronger hate crimes legislation has also brought them into the fight for the next President of the United States. They have become vocal supporters of Barack Obama, in large part because of his stated commitment to passing hate crimes laws.
Watch the video from Ryan’s brother and much more after the jump…
Here is video of Michelle Obama speaking to the luncheon for LGBT delegates during the Democratic Convention. Mrs. Obama addressed over 600 LGBT delegates, supporters, bloggers and members of the media at the luncheon sponsored by Congressman Barney Frank and the Victory Fund
Dave Stewart (formerly one half of Eurythmics) and Bono wrote this beautiful new song as a testament to the hope and promise of political change represented by the Obama campaign.
It must be nice to have some many multi-million dollar homes that you can’t remember how many you have. Unlike John McCain, most Americans don’t have that problem. Instead we are struggling to pay the rent/mortgage and keep our heads’ above water.
This new ad from the Obama campaign makes the case that the White House is one house that we can’t afford to let McCain own.
UPDATE:The Jed Report put together this video that takes us on a Google Earth tour of each of John McCain’s million dollar homes.
The Human Rights Campaign PAC has released a blistering report on Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s pathetic record on LGBT civil rights. The report entitled John McCain: A Record of Opposing the Interests of GLBT Americans shows that while McCain maybe be a “straight” talker, he is no maverick when it comes to supporting the right of LGBT Americans to equal treatment under the law.
