Our vote counted

By Mustang Bobby

Here's a bit of interesting news via Miami New Times:

Barack Obama might have gay voters to thank for his reelection, especially right here in Florida. A new analysis suggests that if only straight people went to the polls here, Romney would have pulled off a win by something like two percentage points.

"Similarly, analysis of preliminary returns from Florida show that the 420,000 total LGBT votes cast in the state may be a deciding factor in President Obama's projected lead in Florida," reads a new analysis by the Williams Institue. "Though final results aren’t yet known, an estimated 300,000 LGBT Floridians voted for the president — a margin many times larger than the current vote difference between the two candidates."

Nationally, 76 percent of self-identified LGBT voters voted for the President. Only 22 percent voted for Romney.

In Florida, Obama got 73 percent of the LGBT vote. 26 percent voted from Romney.

It's a little more than ironic that while the LGBT community may not have all the rights we're entitled to as citizens — marriage, inheritance, survivor benefits — we still have the one that matters on Election Day. And we used it well.

(Cross-posted at Bark Bark Woof Woof.)