Obviously the way the Democrats are framing their message on GLBT issues is more palatable to the general public than looking at them from the fantastical point of view of national security. The question is whether the Democratic message of bridging the divide can go head-to-head with the Republican strategy of either ignoring these issues or framing them in terms of the definition of marriage, an issue I think the Democrats will ignore.

Read the rest of this blog at grand-divisions.blogspot.com.

Barack Obama just gave what I would consider to be the best speech ever given. I agree whole heartedly with the Presidential candidate when he said, “America, we can not turn back!”

Read more at Gayagenda.com.

Babes Around Denver (BAD) and Tracks/EXDO have collaborated with the Human Rights Campaign, Stonewall Democrats, NGLTF, The Center, Outfront Magazine, Boulder Pride, ATL Foundation, Hip Chicks Out, Cafe Vivid, Colorado AIDS Project, Project Angel Heart, Matthew Shepherd Foundation and others to bring you this event.

Unity Dance 08 will be a party—not a political event—so, no speeches or partisanship, just fun! Doors will open early and close late with music and entertainment by legendary DJ’s Manny Lehman and Lydia Prim along with resident First Friday DJ Trina J. All GLBT and straight allies are welcome – and don’t miss the VIP (open to all) opening welcome reception from 7pm-9pm, with a great buffet for only $10 more!

Get more info and follow the DNC at avalonfarmblog.wordpress.com.

There will be a Digg Stage with prominent national leaders, as well as a Google Retreat with a YouTube kiosk where bloggers can make their own YouTube videos. The Big Tent will be open throughout the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 25- 28. The facility will be located steps away from the Pepsi Center which will play host to the 2008 Democratic Convention. In addition to live feeds from the convention floor, high speed internet access, food & beverages and entertainment, the big tent will also host daily discussion panels featuring some of the top progressive leaders in the country.

Middle Tennessee new media producer Valerie Reynolds host of AVALON FARMCAST & AVALONFARMBLOG will be covering GLBT news from the convention including interviews with Tennessee’s first transgender Delegate Marisa Richmond, members of Denver’s Gay & Lesbian Center and HRC’s Premier Convention event: Rock the Vote, a concert featuring Melissa Ethridge, Cindy Lauper and others yet to be announced.

A former Florida radio & TV professional Ms. Reynold’s is also a graduate of M.T.S.U’s mass communications program. She produced and hosted Nashville’s Gay TV on community access TV for 5 years and in Nashville is perhaps best known as a singer/songwriter. She performed regionally with her 5 peace blues band : The d Cactus Blues Band in the 90’s and received a Grammy nomination for her CD GOOD WOMAN BLUES in 1995. Reynolds currently is in post production on a documentary about Nashville’s 1960’s R&B music scene that included a guitarist yet to be known as Jimi Hendrix. During the upcoming convention, Her blog entries may be accessed at avalonfamblog.wordpress.com with additional guest blog entries at Tennessee Equality Project’s (TEP) new blog, grand-divisions.blogspot.com. Her podcasts will be at avalonfarmcast.com and on itunes (AVALON FARMCAST) and her videos from Denver can be downloaded at youtube.com/avalonfarms.

You can also help support the bloggers by making donations here.

Well, looks like his video has backfired and people from within his own Anti-Gay hate group have grumbled enough to have the video pulled off the website. According to a blog on queensspeach.com, “they’re saying it was just a joke. Well, it’s a joke that the religious right used to target Obama, because he’s a Democrat. This only fuels the concern that the religious right isn’t about God anymore, they’re about Republicans. And that’s just sad.”

Read more at gayagenda.com and watch the video below.

Daughtry is a Pentecostal minister, and, as described in a New York Times article published on July 20, she has brought the passion of her sermons and her church celebrations to her role as Howard Dean’s chief of staff for the DNC.

But there may be a darker side to the story for GLBT Americans. The New York Times article related how Howard Dean had gone along with Daughtry’s idea for an interdenominational group called “Faith in Action” (FIA) that would study and come up with ideas for the issue of how to connect with religious voters.

One such action was the FIA-financed “Faith and Values Voters Guide,” created by Alabama’s Democratic party chairman and distributed before the Nov., 2006 election. The Voter’s Guide contained a section concerned with a “covenant for the future,” which included a plan to “require public schools to offer Bible literacy as part of their curriculum,” as well as to “defeat any efforts to redefine marriage or provide the benefits of marriage to a same-sex union”–language that seems to target civil unions and domestic partnerships as well as marriage equality, and which constitutes what gay and lesbian families who support the Democratic party might regard as a slap in the face.

Read more at edgeboston.com.

Read the top 5 reasons the 2008 DNC will be the gayest ever at examiner.com.

When asked about whether she supports gay marriage, Daughtry replied that she does not. The Pentecostal minister turned politico goes on to explain that same-sex nuptials go against her personal beliefs: “I believe, as the church believes, that marriage is intended for one man and one woman.” Daughtry goes on to insist that she keeps her religious beliefs separate from her duties at the DNC: “People know that I am a reverend but it is completely separate from the work at the DNC.”

Read more at queerty.com.

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization, announced today that it will sponsor an event called “Rock to Win” in Denver, Colorado, during the Democratic National Convention. There will be a special performance by Oscar and Grammy award-winning, singer-songwriter, Melissa Etheridge.

“All of America, and the world at large, has so much at stake in this year’s election. Four years ago, GLBT issues were used by the right wing in an attempt to distract and manipulate voters, and we vowed to fight those forces and continue to educate the electorate on the road to equality,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “We have largely succeeded in reshaping the political landscape. ‘Rock to Win’ is a celebration of our growth and progress, and a grand kickoff to hard work ahead in the general to elect a new president of our nation.”

“Rock to Win” will also honor the creators and cast of Milk, the much anticipated film about San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk. Milk was murdered thirty years ago for his role as a fearless champion of GLBT equality. Other artists and special guests who will be in attendance at “Rock to Win” will be announced in the days to come.

“Rock to Win” will be held at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver-a venue modeled on the historic San Francisco Fillmore rock club-on Tuesday, August 26, the second night of the Democratic National Convention, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale to the public June 7, 2008.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.