Tonight history happens. The national Human Rights Campaign (HRC) hosts a host of Democratic presidential candidates in a debate covering gay issues. Confirmed: Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson. Republican candidates reportedly declined a similar invitation from the national group. The debates will be televised live on The Visible Vote 08 at 9pm EST, 8pm, here in Texas, on Logo, which locally appears on Grande Digital Cable 172 and Time-Warner 261.

Many private viewing parties are happening, and the only public viewing we have heard about thus far (thank you, Will!) is going to be at OilCan Harry’s, who said they’d be happy to change the channel to Logo, if people so desire. (If you know of any more public viewings, please call us before 6pm: 454-5766 or email us at gayplace@austinchronicle.com after.)

Tonight’s exercise in presidential forensics will be an interesting study in character. Will candidates speak from the heart? From the brainstem? Will they try to garner new constituencies? Shore up the already faithful? And/or will it be more mealy-mouthed political tippy-toeing?

(P.S. Here’s a free plug for the graphic: You can order those cute li’l gay donkeys here.)

This article appears in August 3 • 2007.

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