As a gay man, I love event planning. Choosing fabrics, colors, table settings, and music. I wonder who lucked out as the contractor for the 2008 DNC? It had to have been someone with a degree in psychology. The video and still backgrounds, color, and music all change based on the theme and speaker. During a speech about the military, the lights turn red and blue. During President Bill Clinton's speech yesterday evening, the lights would go bright during applause then slowly dissolve back to a dim. The music is performed by a live band that sits at stage left. The entire event was planned with incredible detail.

Hillary delegates from around the country were invited to a reception at the Colorado Convention Center with Senator Clinton. Those who were interesting in attending filled out a short form on the Internet and then printed a ticket online. I had my ticket. You never know when it will be the last time you'll get to see the senator up close. When I arrived at the convention center

Boyd Richie announced a change to the Roll Call Vote process at this morning's Delegate Breakfast. After receiving our delegate credentials, we were directed to a small room in the west wing of the host hotel. Inside the room we presented our delegate credential and ID, then placed our president preference (Obama, Clinton, or Abstain) and signed our name. This was our official vote. The list will be copied and published then delivered to the Pepsi Center via a shuttle bus around 12:30pm. Mr. Richie stated that officials staying at other hotels would still have the opportunity to vote later today. Chairman Richie was upset both visibility and emotionally when some delegates asked

When you first walk into the Pepsi Center and look at the stage, it completely overwhelms. Fiberoptic stars twinkle on a black backdrop on either side of the stage. From the floor to the rafters, lights and video screens make you seem like you're at a U2 concert. In between guest speakers, the video screens pan across the venue to capture people dancing to soul and gospel music (and maybe a couple of disco songs every once in a while). I'm not exactly sure what you see on television, but I can tell you what you didn't see yesterday on the floor of the convention.

SPECIAL GUEST BLOGGER TO THE DNC The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered (GLBT) Caucus convened at noon today with a true spirit of unity inside the Four Seasons Ballroom at the Colorado Convention Center. Seating was provided for nearly 400 people. The opening remarks provided an amazing history between the DNC and the caucus. The GLBT movement within the DNC began in the 1970s without the official recognition of the party. In 1972, a caucus of five people convened as gays and lesbians. There was no official GLBT caucus in 1980. Then in 1984 the DNC certified the GLBT caucus only to later decertify it as a "special intrest" group. It wasn't until 1996 that the DNC officially recertified the GLBT caucus. Today the official number of GLBT delegates from states, territories, and commonwealths was announced as 360+ strong. That's a 41% increase in GLBT delegates from the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Texas alone boasted 22 GLBT identified delegates during today's caucus roll call.

SPECIAL GUEST BLOGGER TO THE DNC Right now, in a small two-story building across from the Denver Police Department, there are more PUMAs than a shoestore shelf. My first stop upon arriving in Denver was to the official headquarters of PUMA. Started by Will Bowers PUMA was first known as "Party Unity My Ass," but now stands for "People United Means Action." The name change reflects the organization's mission to reform the Democratic Party and rid it of caucuses to ensure every vote is counted. After all, certified votes in Michigan were changed months after the election based on exit polls. That was probably a bad precedent.

SPECIAL GUEST BLOGGER TO THE DNC I thought that I would have a peaceful sleep before beginning my trip to Denver to attend the DNC as one of only 360 GLBT delegates. Just hours before dreaming of New Mexico drivers and construction zone speed limits, I was rudely awakened at 2:33am by the official Obama campaign text message, confirming the news about Biden. So much for the 'unity' ticket. My trip from Austin has lasted eleven hours and ended in Raton, New Mexico for an overnight stay. Tomorrow I'll join Democratic delegates from all throughout the country in Denver to convene for Monday's opening session of the Democratic National Convention.

SPECIAL GUEST BLOGGER TO THE DNC Hello everyone! Kate asked that I provide a brief bio, so here goes: I'm a disaster planning consultant (13 years), helping businesses prepare for and respond to emergencies. For this work, I have traveled throughout North America. I have three younger brothers. (Yes, I'm the "gay big brother.")

The Gay Place and Chronic are proud as peacocks to welcome Special Guest Blogger Steve Rivas to the team to cover and convey his personal journey to and through the Democratic National Convention in Denver this week. Steve is delegate from our own Texas Senate District 14 and is one of the history-making 365 (or so) openly gay delegates to attend the national convention. As you may or may not know, delegates were voted to the national convention by our own state convention this past June. I was honored to be present that late, late night at the Hilton downtown and to be part of the vote that sent Steve to Denver. Now, "sent" is a purely figurative term in this case. Delegates pay their own way. After being elected as representatives from their state, they have less than two months to raise the necessary dough to take off work and get themselves to Denver. Check out Steve's web page. There is an easy link to make donations to him on this public service quest, should you feel so generously inclined. We are eager to hear the word from the trail.