Don't Drink the Tea!: How the Gay Community Can Keep Voting Focus

     This has been one of the most entertaining political seasons in recent memory. Nothing has entertained me so much as the Tea Party. From the over-top-candidates (thank you for the laughs, Christine O'Donnell) to ridiculous party platforms (no masturbation?) to blatant racism (yes, I mistake Latinos for Asians all the time) the Tea Party has caused quite the stir in the polical arena.
     While the Republican party has enjoyed being energized as of late, the Democrats have been losing steam. An A.P. report released yesterday indicates this is particularly true in the gay community, with many reporting they are either not going to vote at all or try to find a different candidate to vote for next Tuesday. Discouraged and disallusioned by unfilled promises by the Obama administration, the gay community feels betrayed and may lash back come election day.
     This may feel good in the short term, but in the long term this will only harm future attempts at gay friendly legislation. Make no mistake: the Obama administration and Democrats in general may be tempering current support of gay issues, but the Democratic Party is and will be the only party by which the gay community will experience positive change.
     In the current political climate, not voting for or voting against a Democrat nominee is voting for a Republican candidate. There are some upstanding Republican candidates that are gay affirming, but they are few and far between.
     There may not be a "good" candidate to vote for in many of next week's elections, but there is always a candidate that is the "lesser of two evils". Next Tuesday, the gay community needs to remember to vote for those candidates who are most likely to implement the change we desire; if not right away, at least in the future.