Rebecca Gardiner/The Ithacan

As the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Coordinator, I have the opportunity to meet many people — students, prospective students, faculty, staff, families and community members. One of the most rewarding parts of my work is interacting with all these people, who represent a myriad of diverse backgrounds, sexual orientations, faith communities, ethnicities, ages, races, classes and many more dimensions. Diversity truly is our strength, and it is a privilege to meet and work with people across all these unique and important variables. Our community is indeed made of a striking and vast sea of differences. As sexual minorities, our status as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is one aspect of our lives we have in common, a shared experience amid so many more individual differences.

At this time of year, however, we also have another thing in common — we vote. A recent Harris poll found that a remarkable 87 percent of LGBT adults are registered to vote. The poll also shows that this indeed translates into action for our community, as 81 percent of LGBT adults who were registered to vote, voted in the 2000 elections.

How many total LGBT voters are there? The Voter News Service has collected this data for some time, and found that 4 to 5 percent of voters in the last five national elections self-identified as gay or lesbian – a sizable proportion of the electorate. The size of the out and identified lesbian and gay vote is comparable to that of Jewish voters and to the traditional family farm vote and about double the number of Asian voters. When bisexual and transgender voters are added, as well as those choosing not to self-identify for a variety of reasons, the true influence of LGBT voters is even greater.

On Election Day 2000, 4.2 million LGBT voters cast their votes. Again, both our strength in numbers and our significant diversity were evident. The numbers provide an important look into the rich, complex and diverse lives we live. In that year, one in four LGBT voters voted for George W. Bush.

Although many often assume that all LGBT people share the same political beliefs or affiliation, the powerful voice of the Log Cabin Republicans (the national gay and lesbian GOP group that works within the Republican Party to advocate for equal rights for all Americans) and other groups show us that ideological diversity is also an important part of the LGBT community.

National Coming Out Day is celebrated every Oct. 11 to mark the anniversary of the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. As National Coming Out Day approaches, it is fitting to note the theme for this year’s observance: “Come Out. Speak Out. Vote.”

I encourage everyone, no matter what your orientation or identity, to particularly embrace this sentiment in this election year. Find out about the candidates’ positions on the issues you care about. Register to vote. And then join with your fellow Americans from all walks of life to make your voices heard on Election Day.

Lisa Maurer is the coordinator of the Center for LGBT Education, Outreach & Services. E-mail her at lmaurer@ithaca.edu.