Mike Gravel : Made Of The Awesome

Say what you will about Democratic-cum-Libertarian presidential candidate Mike Gravel, but the dude is NOT boring. Dig his trippy take on the Beatles' Helter Skelter. It's funny and sobering. Cannot. Stop. Watching. Play LOUD.

Mike Gravel Joins Libertarian Party

Mike Gravel, everyone's favorite wacky idealist (and BFF of the gays), is ditching the Democrats to run for president under the banner of the Libertarian Party. In other momentous switches, the NYPD will change the color of parking tickets from safety orange to burnt orange. (And when Gravel is elected, we'll be doing away parking tickets entirely. The government should not be in the business of telling Americans where they can park!)

I really shouldn't mock Mike Gravel. After all, he is one of only two Democratic presidential candidates who have signed off on every bullet point on the Homosexual Agenda: marriage equality, ENDA¹, hate crimes, DADT, putting a Judy Garland Monument on the National Mall².

Last summer when I met Gravel at an appearance before the only there for the open bar politically charged Gays Of Chelsea, he spoke eloquently about how love is the only important thing in the world, and how as president, he'd work for the equality of all Americans, "Be they gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transvestitite." Are travestitites the ones that wear their hair UP? Or is that the transvestimites? Check amongst yourselves.

¹After I told him what it was.
²To balance that dreary Korean War thing.

Rappin' Mike Gravel

I know most people consider him a kook, but there's something totally lovable about Mike Gravel.

HRC Debate: Gravel In

The HRC has relented and given Sen. Mike Gravel a belated invitation to join their upcoming presidential debate to be aired live on LOGO. Last week Gravel wrote a Huffington Post column blasting his exclusion and with the support of some LGBT bloggers, the HRC reconsidered. Today Gravel wrote an open letter of thanks to the gay community for backing his attendance at the debate. While Gravel is a marginal candidate at best - and having met the man, I think that's a good thing - he remains the sole presidential candidate that fully supports marriage equality. I'm sure he'll call out the others on that during the debate, and that too will be a good thing. The debate takes place August 9th at 6pm and has been extended to 90 minutes.

Gravel Speaks To The Gays

Last night I attended the Queerty-sponsored speech of presidential candidate Sen. Mike Gravel at the Hotel Chelsea's Star Lounge. While Gravel spoke passionately about ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and marriage equality, he made a couple of missteps. First, when expounding on his position that closeted gays hurt the cause, which all here agree, I'm sure, he said, "Be proud of who you are, whether you're gay or lesbian or transvestitite!" Uh, "transvestitite", Senator? That caused a few rolled eyes.

Then during the Q&A, I asked, "Senator, what do think the chances are of getting ENDA passed during the current session?" Gravel responded that he had no idea what ENDA was. I gave a brief description of ENDA and he said he supported it, "of course". Gravel left the Senate in 1981, so I suppose he can't be expected to be current on all pending legislation, but I found his ignorance on ENDA to be rather unforgivable, particularly when he'd been invited to speak to gay activists.

The event was well-attended and I congratulate the Queerty guys, David Hauslaib and Andrew Belonsky, for to putting it all together.