GLBT Americans are becoming a politically distinct voting demographic.

Since 1990, when exit pollers started collecting data on sexual orientation, GLBT support for Democratic presidents and House candidates has been 20 to 30 percent higher than that of heterosexuals, says Patrick J. Egan, a professor at New York University and author of an October study by Social Science Research Network.

More than 92 percent of gay male and 91 percent of lesbian respondents reported that they voted in the 2004 presidential election. In comparison, a report from communitymarketinginc.com, which published Gay Consumer Index and Lesbian Consumer Index of 2007, say that 64 percent of the U.S. population voted in the 2004 presidential election.

“We are a sought-after voting bloc,” says Delores Jacobs, director of the San Diego LGBT Community Center (The Center). “Nearly all the Democratic presidential candidates appearing in the LOGO/HRC Visible Vote forum, [spoke] exclusively about issues of specific concern to the LGBT and allied community.”

Like numerous LGBT community centers across the nation, The Center realizes that GLBT people are gaining political leverage through the ballot, and has taken it upon itself to increase their clout by campaigning. Consequently, this election year, The Center has created “LGBT San Diego Delivers The Vote 2008.”

The campaign encourages “all LGBT San Diegans, regardless of their party affiliations or favorite candidates, to make a difference in our city, county, state, and nation by voting,” says Caroline Dessert, public affairs and community organizing coordinator for The Center.

It includes a voting resources Web site (www.thecentersd.org/policy5.php), e-mail announcements, coordination with outside community groups, and various types of political organizing, said Dessert.

“Our goal is to see more LGBT community members registering, voting by mail and actually showing up to the polls on election days. Our concern is not about who they vote for or what party they are affiliated with. Our concern is that they participate and make their concerns, issues and voices heard,” said Dessert.

But while GLBT people are gaining political clout, and GLBT organizations are actively working to maintain and further it, the issues most salient to GLBT people aren’t always same-sex marriage, anti-gay legislation and other issues associated with the community.

In a recent survey, the 2007 Hunter College Poll, released early last December by Knowledge Network Inc., found nearly 23 percent of the GLBT community said that “the economy and jobs” was its most pressing issue in considering which presidential candidate to vote for.

Another 22 percent of GLBT respondents cited “health care,” and 21 percent said “Iraq” as top concerns. The poll is available at www.cuny.edu/news.

“They’re citizens of the United States,” Ken Sherrill, one of the poll’s chief analysts, told the Washington Blade last December. “The country’s at war. The economy is in the toilet; the health care system is in crisis. It’s not as if we’re dealing with a single issue.”

Several local gay and bisexual male voters echo Sherrill’s sentiment.

“LGBT concerns are important, but I think as long as we elect a democratic president we will continue to move in the direction of equal rights and opportunities,” said Martin Doucett, of Del Cerro.

“Repairing the United States’ international relationships and reputation are of vital importance. The Bush Administration has made a mockery of the U.S. abroad, and that needs to be fixed immediately,” said Jerry Tomaszewicz, of North Park.

The Hunter College Poll also found that 63 percent of GLBT respondents choose Clinton for the Democratic primary, followed by Sen. Barack Obama with 22 percent and John Edwards with 7 percent.

Interestingly, the majority of voters we spoke with said they would vote for Obama.

“It seems as though Hillary and Edwards are simply running on the platform of ‘Bush this and Bush that.’ Well, Bush is no longer a factor when it comes to running this country after January 2009. Obama is running as his own person. The ‘We hate Bush’ campaigning is over,” said Dave Hershey, of Hillcrest.

“I believe Barack Obama is pointing us in the right direction with his adamant stance against ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ and he will help start the change. Although, he himself will not be the one to complete it,” said Jhoana Chan, a student resident at San Diego State University.

Whatever candidate or issue GLBT voters vote for, Jacobs emphasizes, they cannot be “passive.”

“We all have a role to play, and must take the appropriate steps to ensure that our voices are heard in 2008. And that can start by simply making certain that we are registered to vote,” said Jacobs.