Data Shows Ohio's LGBT Community Made A Huge Impact in the 2008 Election.

From the Ohio Democratic Party:

In 2008, the LGBT community’s participation among key races were staggering compared to years past. In 2008 alone with coalitions built between key stakeholders such as the Stonewall Democrats, Human Rights Campaign, Equality Ohio and many other politically active groups we were able to complete the following in Ohio:

· Increase the number of newly registered self identified LGBT voters by 10,933;

· Track 133,061 self identified LGBT voters early vote patterns;

1. 47,014 voted before November 4^th either by mail or early vote location,

2. 85,277 voted Election Day,

3. 770 did not vote for unknown reasons.

· Created thirty-four (34) volunteer LGBT Youth to Youth leaders at college campuses across the State;

1. Registered 4,993 new college voters

2. LGBT volunteer youth base increased by 302

· Increased LGBT Volunteer base in 2008;

1. 27,301 existing or new self identified volunteers who contributed 2 hours or more volunteering to the Presidential or down ballot democratic candidates.

· Increased LGBT volunteer presence in key Ohio House races;

1. LGBT Volunteers devoted more than 87,000 hours of volunteer time to the 7 house races that helped regain control of the Ohio House.

· Staggering numbers of volunteers for GOTV (get out the vote) efforts;

1. Sunday November 1^st through Monday November 3^rd 2008 LGBT volunteers contributed 17,240 hours to the coordinated campaign,

2. November 4^th 2008 LGBT volunteers were located in 87 of the 88 counties in Ohio numbering 5,147 contributing 19043 hours in one day to the Coordinated Campaign