While attending a friend's birthday party recently, I was reminded that QUEERtimes came out early as the only queer media organization to endorse Michael Nutter for Mayor during the primary in May.

So, it should come as no surprise that QT is continuing to support Nutter's efforts to be elected as the next mayor of the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection.  We do this not because we know he will be elected but because he is still the best candidate running.  As such he deserves our continued support. 

We feel that, at this time, there is no need to extol the virtues of electing Michael Nutter. Instead, we at QT would rather focus upon the topic of queer political influence.   

Queer political influence has become a force which can not be shoved back into the closet.

In a "precedent-setting" survey of more then more than 12,000 gay Americans and 10,000 lesbian Americans conducted by Community Marketing Inc., we find some fascinating figures that show just how influential we have become in the voting booth.

The report tells us that 'more than 92% of gay male respondents reported that they voted in the 2004 presidential election with nearly 84% reporting that they voted in the mid-term election in 2006.

Results for lesbians were similar with nearly 91% of lesbian respondents reporting that they voted in the 2004 presidential election and 78% reporting that they voted in the mid-term election in 2006.

In comparison, media reports estimate that 64% of the general population voted in the 2004 presidential election and just 40% of the general population voted in the 2006 mid-term election.

These are remarkable statistics and it s