My understanding of his NM record is that what he's saying is true. I've said for a while that he has one of the best track records on LGBT issues of any of the D candidates, and early on considered supporting him. By the by, he's also got the deepest and most relevant resume of any candidate in the race, much of that experience being in foreign service.

Ultimately, though, I decided that I wouldn't support him because he also has a severe case of foot-in-mouth disease that makes the question of his qualifications a moot point.

As the first openly gay member of the NM State Senate in the early 90's, Congressman Bill Richardson supported me in my first race for elected office which was successful.

As the Governor of our state, he has supported my partner and I in our relationship and in our work for nondiscrimination, hate crimes, and domestic partnerships.

He has signed both a Hate Crimes bill and a Nondiscrimnation Bill that includes GLBTI - only a few states have included gender identity (NM was the 3rd state) and he made it happen.

He has made Domestic Partnerships a priority for two years and he will place it on his "Call of Topics" for the next legislative session - we lost by one vote in 2007 and he was and is poised to sign the bill into law.

He does not always say the right things at the right moment but he has been sincere - in his years in Congress and in his years as Governor.

He has also appointed several gay people to state boards and commissions as well as in full time employment as Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, Directors, etc.

I would encourage you to think about what this candidate has done vs what others are promising to do - he has come through for us in NM and we do not doubt that he will continue to be there for the LGBTI community.

Thanks, Liz Stefaniacs

Bill Richardson's actions speak louder than words. I have known him since his early days in Congress. Here is a guy who in the 80s did not need to be persuaded that supporting gays and lesbians was the right and only thing to do.

As the lobbyist for the GLBT community in new Mexico, I have worked closely with Gov Richardson for many years. When he became governor in 2003, he kept his campaign promise and helped us pass and signed the human rights act with sexualorientation and gender identity. He also helped pass and signed a hate crimes bill with SO and GI. He issued an executive order providing health insurance benefits for domestic partners. Now he is pushing probably the most comprehensive domestic partnership legislation in the country. We should have it passed and signed by Feb 2008.

Yeah he said gayness is a choice and later admitted his mistake. For some of us he was probably right the first time.

To me, the fact that Richardson went after the Gender ID protections as well as the sexual orientation shows that he's real. It's easy to say "What's in the bedroom stays in the bedroom", but to also want to protect people's gender performance on the job, a gender transgression that others will be forced to notice and deal with daily, shows that he's willing to go to the source of the problem.

ok now to shock you Governer Richardson is my prefered Democrate of the whole bunch.Besides his stand on our issues hes had way more government experience than any of the other folks running and that includes Republicans.

Hmmm. I like your willingness to admit a mistake. And your positions on LGBT issues, although I'd prefer same-sex marriage to domestic partnerships. Your actual record on LGBT issues is impressive, too: it's not just talk. I'd been leaning heavily toward Kucinich until he mused out loud about picking Ron Paul for his VP. He lost me there.

I want the US out of Iraq as soon as possible, so I'm with you there.

The fact that you're of Mexican-American descent is a big plus, also. I'm 3rd generation Californian and that state would not be the amazing place it is were it not for its very large Mexican-American community, to which I feel a strong affinity even though I'm Anglo. I assume you speak Spanish--and perhaps French, too. It's past time we had an authentic Spanish speaking person in the White House and not that offensive poseur who resides there now.

But pro-death penalty, Gov Richardson? What the heck is that about? Not to mention, pro gun rights? The approach to gun-ownership in the US is crazy. Wikipedia also says you oppose a single-payer health system?

Those are some serious negatives.