Manchester, NH 1-8-08 As the hours wind down and the final votes are tallied; the voters in New Hampshire may well decide who will be the Democratic and Republican candidates for the 2008 Presidential election. Strong showing in this primary may have a huge impact on voters in other states in what has been a long and grueling campaign. Candidates are racing across the state in a last minute effort to win over the crucial 40% undecided vote which will determine the eventual winners. For Gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender ( LGBT ) voters, the stakes are very high. Recent gains in this conservative state may be enhanced or eliminated, depending on who wins their parties' respective nomination.
At a recent rally for Senator John McCain, R-AZ, in Salem, NH, his record on AIDS, ENDA and global warming was attacked by members of the Washington, DC and New York chapters of ACT-UP. These demonstrators interrupted the Senator's stump speech by holding up signs and demanding answers from the Senator who tried to continue with his prepared speech. The senator attempted to silence the protestors by asking them to hold their comments until he finished his 'talk'. The protest continued, finally ending when angry members of the town hall audience ripped the signs from the protestors' hands and forced them out of the meeting. The AIDS activists staged a small rally outside of the meeting finally leaving after the crowd dispersed.
This was the exception rather than the norm at most of the rallies and town hall meetings. There was little visible GLBT presence at these meetings, but there has been a a strong push to get the LBGT community involved. In downtown Manchester, The Element, a gay bar attracts a mixed cliental who come for Karaoke night as they do for relaxation and discussing politics. Bar owner Tim Kierstead is an affable man who took an abandoned shop on the main street of New Hampshire's largest city and transformed it into an establishment that reminds one of the mythical bar, 'Cheers', in Boston. Kierstead stated The Element 18 months ago in the same location as an after hours bar that operated in the early 1980's. 'When I saw this place I was overwhelmed and knew that I had to open this bar.' Since its opening, the bar has enjoyed a growing cliental, gay and straight, as well as the respect of the local government. 'We were one of the few bars that have an extended hour's license. I have been in this business for over 19 years and believe that it is my responsibility to make sure that my customers have a place where they can be themselves and feel safe. I have been known to pay for a taxi if one of my customers has had too much to drink.'
Kierstead is also enthusiastic about the changes he sees in New Hampshire.
'New Hampshire is becoming much more gay-friendly. We now have a law that says that same-sex couples have the same legal rights as straight couples. Because of these changes, we are growing as a community.' As if to make his point, he brings up a bit of gay history. ' 'The 'Hillary for President' headquarters is located in what used to be The Front Runner Club, a men's bar in the late 1990's. We have a lot of staffers from her campaign come into the bar after work, not only to promote her candidacy but to have a drink, enjoy participating in Karaoke night or just hang out.'
As if to make his point, several women, carrying Hillary for President, signs came into the bar to encourage the patrons to vote for her on Tuesday. Karen Wainwright, Susan Charest and her partner, Lisa Maloney is typical of the LGBT voters that have become an important voting block. These women decided to support Senator Clinton, D-NY after watching the debate Saturday evening. Wainwright was leaning toward voting for Senator Barack Obama until she heard Clinton's views on foreign and domestic policies. 'After listening to the debate, I really came to believe that Hillary Clinton was the right candidate for the Democratic nomination. While I like Obama, I felt that his answers were too vague. I think that the next President needs to have more experience than Obama has.' Charest and her partner, Maloney are concerned about their rights as a same-sex couple and believe that Clinton will continue to work to protect their rights. 'I agree with Karen ( Wainwright ) . After watching the debate, I am concerned about Obama's views. He seems like a nice man, but I don't think he has the experience that is needed for the job of President. I am also concerned about some of his comments on civil unions. My decision to vote for Hillary was spontaneous and I am going to do what I can to get my friends to vote for Hillary.' says Charest.
This sentiment was echoed another couple, Keith Campbell and his partner, Chassic Kuts Sahar. Together for 24 years, they are planning to legalize their union at the end of this month. They own and operate a hair salon in downtown Manchester and are quietly enthusiastic about the possibility of having a democratic president. Until recently, they were undecided about who they were going to vote for, but have made a decision and will encourage their friends to vote for Clinton.
Across town, in another gay bar, a gathering of loyal Clinton supporters gathered for a last minute rally. Actress Ellen Greene, director Bruce Cohen and Congressman Barney Frank, D-MA tried to rally these supporters to get out the vote for Clinton. Given the outlook, which shows Obama leading Clinton in the polls, they were still hopeful for a different outcome. If Clinton does not succeed in her bid for the Democratic, these LBGT voters will work for the Democratic nominee as long as he is willing to support the issues that are important to these voters: protection of same-sex civil unions and the eventual passage of non-discriminatory laws dealing with employment, housing, health care and other concerns where inequity exists for the LBGT community.
Now that the voters of New Hampshire have chosen their candidates, it is with not a small amount of satisfaction that Hillary supporters can claim victory. A call to the Hillary Campaign in Manchester had an unidentified volunteer gleeful with the victory and a "no comment" on the question of the LGBT vote. Attempts at contacting other LGBT voters interviewed earlier in the week were more successful. Bar owner Tim Kierstead was pleased with the outcome and reported a large number of celebrants in his bar.
The candidates from both parties now turn their attention to the other states' whose primaries are coming up, with the main focus on the "Super Tuesday" states taking up most of their attention. It may well be that the next candidates for the Republican and Democratic nominations will be determined as early as Feb. 2, 2008.
