[Editorial note: Candidates who receive endorsements from GaySocialites.com or any media outlet under the supervision of GaySocialites Media Group (GSMG) are approved by the GaySocialites.com Editorial Board and the Editorial Advisory Board for the GSMG.  However, each endorsement is penned by a senior member of our staff and edited by another senior staffer.  The Presidential Endorsement was written by CEO and Editorial Director Charles Winters and then edited by  Thomas Bistrtiz who serves as Editor-in-Chief for GaySocialites.com and queerplanet.net.  This endorsement doesn't necessarily reflect the opinions of our entire organization or those associated.]

We here at GaySocialites.com don’t just hand out endorsements to those seeking political office just for the fun of doing so or to fill space around election time. Noting that this is only our second endorsement this political season serves as proof.

Until now the GaySocialites organization has only committed to one candidate, Kirsten Gillibrand seeking re-election to the US Senate in New York. In that endorsement, I encouraged everyone to get behind Senator Gillibrand. Not only is she right for New York, she is also exactly the type of representative the LGBT community needs fighting for us, and she is making positive changes for the country as a whole.

While we recognize the importance of standing behind the candidate who will do the most for the gay community, it took myself and others a bit to weigh both sides of the argument.

On one side you have President Barack Obama and the Democrats. Mr. Obama made history as the first sitting President to come out in support of gay marriage, and his Vice President did the same for his office. This year’s delegates at the Democratic National Convention also became the first major party to adopt gay marriage as one of its platform issues.

And even though Obama and the Democrats have made more of a pledge to go to work for the LGBT community, we can’t easily forget how quick he was to get us on his bandwagon four years ago while running for his first term as President. Yet, we can’t easily forget how quickly the issues important to us were moved to the back burner after he moved into the White House.

Then in the opposing party, we find a strong businessman with the confidence to lead and a resume of proven results… without forgetting his bank account that literally allows him to put his money where his mouth is. It is hard not to be mesmerized by Mitt Romney’s achievements in the private sector. In a time when the future of our country’s economy seems uncertain, a sense of security lies with the potential for Romney to bring us out of this double dip recession. He has chosen tea party activist Paul Ryan to be his running mate on the Republican ticket.

Now that all men have officially been nominated by their respective parties and each has laid out their platform and set their own expectations, we are starting to see a more clear cut choice.

As I pointed out in a piece I wrote that compared the two parties’ positions on gay rights, the Democrats in this race aren’t the only ones who have committed to voting in favor of equality for the LGBT community.

We can not, however, go without noting that one of these tickets has never used the LGBT to further their agenda, whereas the other has made many unfulfilled campaign commitments in this area leaving us to question any sincerity in the promises they’ve made.

In hopes of solidifying a unified decision in this endorsement, I presented each member of both our Editorial Board and our Editorial Advisory Board with these two factors. We are in a position where we have to decide which is more important. Is it more important that we elect a President who wants to be the man to bring the civil rights issue of our generation to a close by granting marriage equality to every gay and lesbian couple nationwide?

Or is it more important that we focus on the cyclical economy of a democracy and elect a man who has made more money than the vast majority of human beings will ever be able to conceptualize in hopes that he can adapt those same money making skills and save our economy?

Shockingly, no matter how different those who comprise the two committees who manage and advise this fine organization may be, each of them responded with a very similar answer. You might even be surprised by their decision.

All of the people who advise me and lead this organization agreed that the time for marriage equality is now. We need to seize this opportunity and use their support to make a step forward in this battle which has taken way too long.

The strength behind their voices reminded me how far we the people of the United States of America have come and what we are capable of accomplishing. The time has come to fight for our rights as Americans, because for too long we have neglected to stand up for ourselves. We have sat by and watched as greed and hatred have prevented ethics from prevailing for way too long.

It is for these reasons that GaySocialites.com throws our support behind Barack Obama and his running mate Joe Biden as they seek re-election to the offices of President and Vice-President of the United States, respectfully. Any gay man or woman would have to be a fool or a selfish, multi-billionaire not to vote for these two men as they are the highest ranking officials to ever endorse marriage equality.

Despite not acting as quickly as he may have promised in the past, we cannot forget all President Obama has done, especially deeming the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional (ordering the Attorney General to stop using federal funds to defend the homophobic law), repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and appointing people who pledge to fight for our rights to prominent positions. And of course we’ ll never forget that President Obama led the attack that ultimately killed Osama bin Laden. Each will hold a valuable spot in history.

While we recognize the need for economic improvement, we’re positive that our country’s financial state is fundamentally stable to make a bounce back inevitable.

Please join us this November as we vote to re-elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden to their positions as this country’s leaders.