Election Day in 1992 was possibly my favorite political day ever. I voted in the morning, watched election returns all evening and celebrated in the streets of West Hollywood until late that night. California made history that day by electing two women to the Senate, and I had the satisfaction of having been part of the process. Two years later, lots of folks with politics different from mine had the satisfaction of shifting things in a different direction. (I was less happy about that.) What we had in common, however, was a belief that voting was important.

This Tuesday, February 5, is Super Tuesday — a big voting day in the United States. Despite the early primaries and caucuses, Tuesday is the official start of the presidential primary season. The 23 Democratic primaries and caucuses and 21 Republican primaries and caucuses will likely determine both parties' candidates. The right to vote is cool and important — arguably the single most important element of civic responsibility and participation. And I'm not the only one who thinks so. Logo (AfterEllen.com's parent company) launched VisibleVote08.com in anticipation of this year's U.S. presidential election. And lots of celebrities are always yammering about the importance of voting or the candidate they want you to vote for. Let's take a look at how some celebrity women have gotten into the act.

Celebrity Endorsements

The most obvious way celebrities participate in the political process is by endorsing specific candidates. Oprah is arguably the highest profile endorser of a candidate in the 2008 race.

She endorsed Barack Obama last spring, and pundits are questioning whether she can apply the “Oprah Effect” to political candidates.

Susan Sarandon is a perennial activist who is dismissed by many (not by me) as a wacko liberal and humorless soapbox orator. (I believe this makes her an honorary lesbian!)

She tolerates this wearily, and argues that if she has to deal with the burdens of celebrity, she might as well also try to use it to do some good. And she acknowledges that even her kids laugh at her activism:

“When we have friends over, the kids always bet on how long it will take before we turn to politics. We always forget, and then they say, 'That was fast — only one minute and two seconds.'”

And, of course, there's Barbara Streisand, whom I love even though I think she takes herself too seriously. … continue reading

Last but not least: New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Hillary's wearing a bright orangish satiny jacket. She seems very at ease as she enters the studio and shakes hands and smiles at people.

Margaret's first comment is, "I like the coral jacket." Oy. I know I've been mentioning everyone's fashion, but Margaret hasn't mentioned anybody's fashion except for Hillary's. I have mixed feelings about this, but no time to get into it!

Joe gets the first question, about Don't Ask Don't Tell. Why haven't you introduced legislation to repeal DADT?

Hillary first thanks everyone quickly and then says, "We didn't have a chance." She says she wants to get it done when she's president. She's very convincing. Go Hillary!

Hey, Asian American woman is fully onscreen now. Damn, Hillary's good — she's pointing out Staff Sergeant Eric Alva in the audience while she talks about Don't Ask Don't Tell; he was the first marine wounded in Iraq. Was he a Clinton campaign placement or does she really have that ability to pick people out under the hot studio lights and identify them correctly while answering political questions? Possibly both. … continue reading

Next up: Congressman Dennis Kucinich from Ohio. He works the front row as he enters the studio, but he's not quite as rock star-like as the other candidates. He seems kinda small and contained. I want to offer him some hot chocolate or something.

Margaret tells him that they really like him here on the left coast, and he says jokingly, "Actually I represent mainstream America," to some applause and cheers. I guess he is from Ohio, huh?

Jonathan of the impeccable suit starts off: "You seem to support everything the LGBT community wants — is there anything the LGBT community wants that you're against?" Everybody laughs.

Kucinich says, "All I can say is keep those contributions coming." More laughter. They're all so happy about Dennis! When asked why he supports same-sex marriage, he says that it's about whether you really believe in equality. He asks us to imagine the equal sign (the logo of HRC) in the middle of a heart. Aw, it's like a Hallmark card!

Jane Lynch, I've noticed, rarely applauds when everybody else does. Why is that? Is she saving her applause for her favorite candidate? Does she not enjoy clapping? And what does the Asian-American woman whose face is halfway on-screen the entire time really think about what's going on? Does she believe these guys? Does she know she's on TV looking over the shoulder of all these candidates like a guardian angel? … continue reading

Next up: North Carolina Senator John Edwards. Let's see who he shakes hands with on his way into the studio. Hmm ... same front row people, they must be lucky. Hey, he went for Jane Lynch — love her! I want to know who the African-American woman sitting in the front row is. Also there's an Asian American woman sitting right off camera behind the stage so that she's always peeking over the shoulder of the Democratic candidate in the hot seat. There she is again! Who are you, Asian American lesbian?

Melissa asks the first question: She starts off by saying that she and John Edwards' wife have a lot in common, and I immediately think, "Wait! Is John Edwards' wife a lesbian?" I mean, I know Mrs. Edwards totally supports gay marriage and all ...

But no, it's a much sadder commonality: Both women have battled breast cancer. Melissa says they also both are able to afford health insurance, and she asks John if he understands the needs of gay and lesbian people who can't depend on their spouse's medical benefits because they are not a legal spouse. She asks him what he would do about it. … continue reading

John Edwards says that those rights should be available to gay and lesbian couples, and they would exist under his universal healthcare plan. Then he quickly goes into a spiel about having been at the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center where he met a bunch of homeless gay youth. Uh, why aren't you answering Melissa's question, John?

I've just finished watching Logo's Visible Vote 08, and though politics doesn't normally fall within the scope of AfterEllen.com's coverage, one could argue that politics provides some of the most cutthroat entertainment possible. While watching the presidential forum, I live-blogged my thoughts about it. Here they are, lightly edited:

The forum opens to reveal a somewhat austere, PBS-like stage, with a woman seated in the middle of the stage in a boxy armchair; it's journalist Margaret Carlson. On her right are three people on a couch: Joe Solmonese (president of the Human Rights Campaign), Melissa Etheridge and Jonathan Capehart (editorial writer from the Washington Post). On stage right is an empty chair where the Democratic presidential candidates will sit, one after the other.

Margaret Carlson announces that she's "on special assignment for Logo." She seems to stumble a bit on the words "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender." Not familiar much with that acronym, huh, Margaret?

Hey — didn't they know I was available to moderate this? I'm just sitting on my couch live-blogging the darn thing. I could've easily flown down to L.A. Plus, I can say "LGBT" in my sleep, I swear!

The opening credits appear with lots of important-sounding music and long words flashing across the screen.

Margaret, who seems to have a bit of a problem reading the teleprompter, tells us that over the next two hours all the Democratic presidential candidates will be speaking in "the order of their confirmation to attend the forum." At first I think this is demented (what about alphabetical order?) but then I see the reason: It means that Barack Obama goes first, and Hillary Clinton goes last.

Barack comes into the studio shaking hands like a rock star — oh, there's Alec Mapa. And hey, Neil Patrick Harris! And Jane Lynch is there too!

After shaking everybody's hands, Obama sits in the vacant seat. Joe Solmonese asks the first question: What place does the church have in government-sanctioned civil marriages? I settle in for a long night of questions and vague non-answers about gay marriage. … continue reading

Tonight, Logo and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation present The Visible Vote '08, a live forum in which the leading 2008 Democratic presidential candidates will address a range of issues of importance to the LGBT community. And if you don't think that's a big deal, just trust those of us who grew up in the Reagan years: It's a very big deal. As panelist Melissa Etheridge notes, "The fact that these candidates have even agreed to show up to a televised forum on LGBT issues means that we have come a long way."

The event will be brodcast on Logo and VisibleVote08.com at 9:00 p.m. ET tonight. The full program will also be available on Joost on August 20, and on iTunes on August 21.

Meanwhile, over on the Visible Vote '08 website, a host of LGBT folk have been blogging about various election issues. Here are some excerpts of their views and insights.

Julie Goldman (The Big Gay Sketch Show):
I will vote for the candidate who supports gay marriage, as that candidate believes in human rights. That candidate believes civil rights are the foundation of human equality. That is what we are really talking about here. True equality.

I don’t need you to tolerate me or accept me, but my money is just as green as yours, and my love is as valid as anyone else’s — and no one has a right to judge or legislate that. I am tired of begging for what is already mine to own, the right to live as I see fit for myself. READ JULIE'S FULL POST

Linda Villarosa:
Instead of planning our weddings, let’s plan a better world. We’ve fought the good fight, but it’s time to move on and use our vast talents to fight the better fights, the ones that benefit everyone — straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and any and everyone in between. These include ending the war; battling HIV/AIDS with care, prevention and treatment; providing affordable health and child care for everyone; eradicating poverty; reducing the wildly escalating gap between the rich and poor; ending violence and abuse of all kinds, reducing the numbers of guns on the streets; lowering the prison population, healing drug and other addictions; cleaning up the environment; and erasing prejudice of every kind and discrimination against anybody.
...
But in the meantime, what about the original question — should lesbians and gays have the right to marry? With the complexities of politics and PR in mind, let’s keep it simple. To the Democratic Presidential candidates who are generously taking part in this groundbreaking Logo/HRC debate, there’s only one answer: “Yes!” READ LINDA'S FULL POST … continue reading