Governor Rendell addressed the National Stonewall Democrats Convention on Sunday, urging the gay community to work on turning out voters to secure victory in what's believed to be will be a close election. (PG)

"You don't think there are people who are fanatical out there about saving Rick Santorum? I guarantee you there are," Mr. Rendell said.

Rendell referenced his own history of strong support for gay issues as proof positive that the vast majority of people are not one-issue voters.  Rendell also called for gays to exhibit tolerance.

"We're fighting for dignity and fairness and understanding, and as we fight, we have to demonstrate that same dignity and fairness and understanding," the governor told about 75 attendees at the National Stonewall Democrats convention.

He commended the LGBT community for building its influence, registering voters and supporting gay-friendly candidates.

Rendell is right on most of these issues.  But casual conversation with movers and shakers in the local party (conversations I've had) reveal a widespread awareness of the divide within the LGBT community. None of the political leaders are going to talk about it out loud or on the record, but I think its the real reason we haven't built enough momentum to squash the marriage amendment.  Its not the apathetic voters, its the continuous petty infighting driven by personal agendas rather than the common good.  (And those personal agendas will be the ones leaving more quasi-anonymous comments on this blog --- behavior that perfectly illustrates my point.)

So how do we as a community break out of this personality driven loop?  Where are the solutions? 

I look around at the various political themed LGBT organizations and feel like none are quite a good fit.  Steel City Stonewall Democrats worked the best for me and I still regret that it didn't work out as I hoped.  I've gone to high-end fundraisers, queer activist events, mainstream democrat events, feminist events, etc.  And within each context, I feel divided almost as if I have to leave some pretty core parts of my identity at the door. 

And I suspect I'm not the only one who feels like I'm not young/hip/old/rich/radical/mainstream enough. 

Back to Rendell, I'm glad he came to the convention.  In spite of what anonymous commenters imply, I did hope for the convention to be a success.  Rumor is that he will be at the PrideFest awareness march on June 17.  That's also good news. 

Maybe we can find a way to get it together for this election?