Last week came the news that the Republican National Committee was conducting focus groups to determine how much they could play to people's racial and gender prejudices without coming off as racist or sexist, a warning that we can expect a pretty ugly election. Who knows if they see any downside to voters finding them homophobic, but it's looking pretty clear this election is going to have plenty of gay baiting, as well.

It started with John Edwards who was called a "Breck girl" by conservatives, was discussed in one National Review column titled "He Feels Pretty and Witty and...." while a Wall Street Journal writer managed to work in "poof" (you might have to watch an ad to follow those links) and Ann Coulter threw out the f-word they were all hinting at.

Now that Edwards isn't in the race, I expect we're going to see similar gay baiting aimed at Barack Obama ... and here's the first hit.

Conservative talk radio host Kevin McCullough wrote about Obama's ads targeting LGBT voters under the headline "Obama: Hey Homos, I'm Your Dude" McCullough calls the ads a message to "the homosexual elite radicals" ... Dude, elite? I got excited over a sitcom because it was pitched as coming "from the makers of Kingpin." Check out the screen cap above, which also uses a picture of Obama in Kenyan garb to make him look like a scary foreigner.

This isn't the first time McCullough has taken his pen against LGBT Americans. Pam Spaulding has collected some of his hits, including his thoughts about Mary Cheney and why we gays seek to destroy marriage.

Sadly, the game here is obvious. Offer "red meat" to the base and while pretending to have no connection to the message. But what's the best way for LGBT voters to respond? Do we raise awareness of these attempts to play to homophobia, forcing discussion of the bigotry on display ... or does that risk fanning anti-gay sentiments? 2008 is going to be one ugly year.

In a recent interview with The Las Vegas Sun, Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama spoke about what is apparently his favorite TV show: HBO's fascinating The Wire, which meticulously decontructs the urban dystopia of modern-day Baltimore. When asked who his favorite character is on the show, Obama answered:

I gotta say Omar's a great character ... He’s this gay gangster who only robs drug dealers, and then gives back. You know, he’s sort of a Robin Hood. And he’s the toughest, baddest guy on this show, but he’s gay, you know. And it’s really interesting. It’s a fascinating character.

First, it would be hard for anyone to pick a favorite character among the 500 or so that populate the complex universe of the show, currently in its fifth season. And second, with a show so groundbreaking in its diversity and its focus on urban black communities of all stripes, for Obama to pick the lone gay character is encouraging.

Although not altogether surprising: when I attended the premiere screening and party for the new season last week and the cast was introduced individually, the crowd went nuts when actor Michael K. Williams, who plays Omar Little, was introduced. 

Not familiar with The Wire? NetFlix it now from the beginning - I guarantee you won't be disappointed, and when was there a better time than now, when there's nothing new to watch? For more on the groundbreaking gay character that's stealing the hearts of Presidential hopefuls, check out our interview with Michael K. Williams.

• HBO has picked up Alan Ball's vampire drama, True Blood which stars Anna Paquin. Maybe it's time to reconsider all that talk about HBO losing its edge to Showtime.
• In September, the London Zoo will host its third annual Gay Sunday. The London Gay Symphonic Wind Orchestra will perform and guests will have the opportunity to have a "face-to-face meeting with a gorilla".
• Barack Obama launches a Pride mini-site, making him the first Presidential (at least, as far as I know) candidate to create a space for his LGBT supporters.
• Harvey Fierstein's next theatre project, A Catered Affair will begin previews on March 25. It adapts a similarly-named Paddy Chayevsky teleplay which went on to become a 1956 film starring Bette Davis and Debbie Reynolds.
• Two English professional football leagues, The Premier League and The Football League, are adopting new rules making homophobic abuse a red card offense.
• Out Australian Idol runner-up Anthony Callea discusses the pressure of being a closeted performer and the relief that's come since being accidentally outed.
• Time Magazine's Mark Halperin grades the candidates in last night's Visible Vote forum, giving Hillary Clinton the top grade.
• Tori & Dean: Inn Love premieres on Tuesday on Oxygen, but for the next 24 hours you can see this sneak peek. And in episode three, Tori proves what a friend she is to the community when she officiates at a gay wedding.

By the way, as Michael heads off to his vacation I'm taking a mini-vacation myself -- stepping away from watching the Big Brother house for an episode. There's plenty to discuss so there'll be a new recap on Monday. I could really use a day or two to stop thinking mean thoughts about the show's producers.

My take on last night's history making Presidential Forum on GLBT issues? Maybe I'm setting the bar too low, but I continue to be astounded by how pro-gay the whole lot of them are, and what a sharp contrast the Democratic slate is with the Republican one, none of whom are apparently even willing to share a stage with us GLBT folks.

For some historical perspective, the term "domestic partner" didn't exist until 1981. It was Michael Dukakis, back in 1988, who was the first presidential candidate to actually say the word "gay." In 1992, Bill Clinton actively campaigned on some of our issues, promising to repeal the ban on gays in the military (and trying to do just that, until the Republican Party, and Colin Powell, went nuclear on him in his third day of office). In 2000, civil unions were barely even on the radar. And in 2004, John Kerry was the first presidential nominee to refer to gay people in his convention speech.

And here it is, only 2007, and all the leading Democratic candidates are debating our issues with us personally (even actually sucking up to us!). And the number one issue they're debating is same-sex marriage!

Incredible. It's just incredible to me how much and how quickly things are changing on GLBT issues.

I also thought it was great that most of the candidates at least paid lip service to transgender issues. Talk about an issue not even being on the horizon just a few years ago!

I was disappointed in Barack Obama's performance. He's my candidate, but I thought he seemed nervous, and his answers were vague and meandering. It made me wonder if he's truly tested enough for the presidential campaign. That said, I thought it was very unfair that all four questioners asked him basically the same question, about same-sex marriage, even after he had already answered it. Maybe the reason he seemed nervous was because the questions directed at him were so adversarial.

Edwards? He's slick, I'll give him that. I loved the whole "I'm gonna level with you — we've had enough doublespeak from politicians" answer, even as I felt manipulated by it. But I just can't shake the sense that this just isn't the year of a straight white man. Basically, I think Elizabeth Edwards is right: for me, the symbolism of the first black of female president is just too cool to pass up.

I continue to be impressed by Hillary. Maybe it's because I'm a political wonk, and she clearly is too. But the contrast between her, who clearly has complete command of what seems like every issue, and our current President Bobblehead, is jarring. I remember when Bill became president after twelve years of Republican platitudes and banalities, how refreshing it was to have a president who didn't talk like the whole country was a bunch of simple-minded idiots. (I know Reagan worked for some people, but he always struck me as a completely empty suit.)

Tonight at 9PM EST/6 PM PST Logo (AfterElton.com's parent company) and the Human Rights Campaign make history when Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Bill Richardson and Mike Gravell participate in the first ever televised presidential forum addressing GLBT issues.

How cool is that? To help stimulate conversation about which issues should be discussed and are most pressing for our community, Logo established a website -- Visible Vote '08 -- and invited a wide-ranging group of GLBT voices to blog about what they find most urgent in this next election. Participants include tennis legend Billie Jean King, author Charles Kincaid, singers Melissa Etheridge and Lance Bass, and our very own Brent Hartinger.

I've been checking out the blog daily and thought I'd post a couple of quotes from some of the posts. Lance Bass writes about gay marriage and how the fact it is denied to gays and lesbians hurts today's youth because they see no place for themselves in American society.

My main fear is for the LGBT youth in America and around the world who, for one reason or another aren’t able to cope or can’t escape their prejudice cities, towns and communities. I often wonder how many teens have committed suicide because they’re struggling with their sexuality and feel the incredible weight of the shame their community puts on homosexuality? I am hoping in this election we have Democratic candidates who feel as passionately about this issue as I do.

Meanwhile our own Brent Hartinger tells how he came to believe our very democracy is at stake

I’ve completely given up on the Republicans. All the elected ones have either supported the beyond-appalling actions of the Bush administration, or they’ve enabled them by simply remaining part of the national party.

BTW, the utterly brilliant partner he refers to in his post? Yes, it's moi!

Anyway, go check out the site, and watch the debate on Logo tonight or online. Brent and I will be blogging it as well, so if you miss it check back here for our reactions!

Judging from the political blogs I follow, I'm not the only gay voter who feels taken for granted by Democratic candidates. Too often, statements supporting LGBT rights seem to be cautiously phrased to offend the fewest number of people, trying hard to not to alienate anyone by being too friendly to our issues while reminding us there aren't many great alternatives.

However, here's some news that leaves me feeling encouraged: on August 9, Logo (AfterElton.com's parent company) and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation will co-present a live forum with Democratic presidential candidates to discuss issues important to the LGBT community. This is the first time a group of Presidential candidates have addressed a queer audience in a national forum, which is a big deal. This also strikes me as the first time we're being addressed as a community of individuals instead of as a handful of leaders of "special interest" groups -- or at private fundraising dinners that don't get much media coverage.

In some ways, I'm reminded of how Bill Clinton addressed young voters by appearing on an MTV News special. I guess you could say that the Democrat's support of gay issues will officially "come out" with this debate.

Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama are confirmed as appearing at the forum, so far. Melissa Etheridge and Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese will lead the discussion. It all takes place August 9 in Los Angeles at 6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on Logo and LOGOonline.com. Plus, viewers will be able to submit questions to the candidates.

Hats off to the candidates, Logo and HRC for pulling this one off!