Obviously, the 2008 presidential election will be a watershed moment for the diversity of its candidates. However, it might also be the moment when the political movement among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people comes of age. The Democratic candidates have promised to support GLBT rights in the workplace, hate crimes laws and the repeal of the "Don't ask, don't tell" rules that keep GLBT members of the military in the closet.

Even presumptive Republican nominee John McCain chose to appear on Ellen to explain why he opposes same-sex marriage.

Right after a post thanking voters in Puerto Rico for her victory in the island's Democratic primary, Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign blog has this message commemorating the beginning of GLBT Pride month:

As we begin Gay Pride Month, I join the LGBT community
in celebrating an historic year in which our country continues to make
progress towards the fair and equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender Americans. Still, we have so much work to do. I look
forward to working with the LGBT community to make sure that all
Americans in committed relationships have equal benefits and that
nothing stands in the way of loving couples who want to adopt children
in need. We need to expand our federal hate crimes legislation and
pass a fully-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. And finally,
we need to put an end to the failed policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
Courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice – the traits that define our
men and women in uniform – have nothing to do with sexual orientation....

Sen. Barack Obama's blog has an announcement of events organized by GLBT Obama supporters, and links to interviews and statements from Obama on GLBT issues. The most interesting is an April, 2008 chat with the prominent gay magazine, The Advocate, in which Obama presented himself as a friend of the GLBT community, but said that as President, he would have to be realistic about what he could do to enact laws that many activists believe are essential to full equality. Here's part of the exchange:

[The Advocate:] I think the underlying fear of the gay community is
that if you get into office, will LGBT folks be
last on the priority list?

Obama: I guess my point
would be that the fact that I’m raising issues
accordant to the LGBT community in a general audience
rather than just treating you like a special interest
that is sort of off in its own little box -- that, I
think, is more indicative of my commitment. Because
ultimately what that shows is that I’m not
afraid to advocate on your behalf outside of church,
so to speak. It’s easy to preach to the choir; what I
think is harder is to speak to a broader audience
about why these issues are important to all
Americans....

Like Clinton, Obama supports civil unions, an end to Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and protections against employment discrimination that include transgendered workers. Obama favors the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, while Clinton would only repeal portions of it.

While McCain is presenting himself as a social conservative who opposes many of the legal protections sought by the GLBT community, he took some flak earlier this year for being willing to meet with leaders of the Log Cabin Republicans. But Pam Spaulding, blogging at Pandagon, reminded readers that McCain is no friend of gay rights:

 Remember, McCain is the tool who sent a letter to [the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network] calling gays an 'intolerable risk to morale, cohesion and discipline.'

Mr. Straight Talk’s campaign also said that he has no intention of asking to “soften” the Republican party’s platform on same-sex marriage to appeal to more voters.

The Arizona senator has not denounced the over-the-top homophobia of his buddy, Patriot Pastor Rod Parsley...."

Writing for the Huffington Post, SLDN's Aubrey Sarvis predicts recent court decisions, changes in state law, and changing attitudes will force the next president's hand

[W]hat is the Pentagon doing to plan for the day when gays and
lesbians will be serving openly in the armed forces of the United
States? What will happen when a sergeant at Travis Air Force Base, for
example, takes advantage of California law and marries his boyfriend,
then returns to base and demands married couples' housing? We know what
happens today: that's the end of his Air Force career. He's discharged
under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT).

That's the reality, but tomorrow's reality will be different. It's going to happen.

Still, some bloggers worried that the backlash against the California Supreme Court's decision in favor of same-sex marriage might hurt the candidates most sympathetic to GLBT rights. Katestone writes:

I’m thrilled that the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of
marriage equality in that state.  I am worried that the issue will move
the Presidential candidates into fractious debates on the Republicans
domestic “axis of evil” — homosexuality, abortion, and activist
judges.  If that is the case,  gay men and lesbians will  once again
have to hear their lives debated negatively and experience the hateful
backlash.   As Gore Vidal once said, “homosexuals are the only minority
it is socially acceptable to hate.”

The New York Times reported today that McCain did not mention the
ruling yesterday.  He doesn’t want to be dragged into that debate right
now but we can be assured that McCain will mention it when he feels he
needs to whip up the base.  Or, he will have his spiritual adviser,
John Hagee, mention it.  Over and over and over.  And debate monitors,
bereft of ideas and creativity, will mention it.  Obama noted the
ruling favorably and moved on.  Good for him..."

Finally, at Campaign Diaries, one blogger deduces that Sen. Obama's need to pick a running mate likely to attract Republicans and independents might result in a VP who's not only opposed to GLBT rights, but also to combatting sex discrimination and protecting affirmative action:

"As conversations about McCain's and Obama's choices are picking-up, a
certain number of people from both parties are worried that their
nominee might select a running mate that is too far from the party's
base. After all, a vice-president is not only a heartbeat away from the
presidency, but he also becomes the favorite to become the party's next
candidate. While the Right is worrying about McCain choosing Charlie
Crist and Tom Ridge, the Left's worst-case scenario is even more
nightmarish..."