August 20, 2008 06:09 PM UTC

From 1908 to 2008, house brings people together around the Convention

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• by: Jenn at Obama for America in Colorado

From the Colorado for Obama blog.

In 1908, Baby Doe Tabor’s brother built a house for the Democratic National Convention. One hundred years later, dozens of Denver’s LGBT community leaders gathered at the same house to discuss what they were ready to do to help elect Barack to the White House.

The evening was filled with excitement as the guests discussed the upcoming Convention. Colorado Delegate Jackie St. Joan was at the party, and talked to us about why she decided to run for a delegate position. She said:

My mother believed in people taking control of their lives and believing in leaders in this country and making the country better. One of the ways she and I became close was by watching the Conventions, starting when I was a kid way back to 1956. So when I found out that the Convention was coming to Denver I decided that I had to try to become a delegate.

The party also had a strong message of unity. Jackie addressed the group, explaining why she thinks it’s important for Hillary’s delegates to have the opportunity to vote at the convention. She said:

I was asked by a reporter, “What is the one thing you really want to do this convention?” I said “I want to stand up and raise my hand for Barack Obama for the people who elected me to do that.” I think the Hillary delegates want that too, and if the situation were reversed I think we would want it that way as well. So I hope that everyone will welcome the Clinton supporters into the Obama camp and the Clinton supporters will feel at home among us.

Consistent with the message of unity, the Co-Chair of Hillary’s LGBT steering committee, Anthony, spoke to the crowd. He said:

I had this epiphany — Hillary Clinton supporters, we had hope as well, and unfortunately that didn’t work out. I wanted the first woman president of the United States but I also want a President in the White House that looks at me as an American, period. I now have that hope again, it just looks different. Barack is still going to stand for the same rights that Hillary stood for.

Hillary will always be in my heart. And as long as she is in office I will full heartedly support her. But now, for the President of the United States, on August 28th at Invesco Field, Barack Obama is my candidate.

Anthony finished speaking to the crowd of about 70, asking them to get involved in the Obama campaign. He said:

We can’t do this alone, and we can’t just talk to gays and lesbians, we have to tell our family and our friends, anyone that we know, why they should support Barack Obama. We are a key and powerful voting block, but we cannot do this alone.