Superdelegate Al Gore has still not endorsed a Democratic candidate. When he was asked by Terry Gross yesterday why he hasn’t, Al said “I’m simply watching and listening to the campaign like everyone else. I haven’t ruled it out, but haven’t been moved to do so.”
When asked if he thought that this long battle for the Democratic nomination would hurt the party and the future candidate's chances of winning in November, Al said “It could be… but I’m not sure that’s the case. There is a pendulum that favors the party that has been out of power for the last eight years. One manifestation will be a powerful urge toward unity no matter how divisive the nominating contest has been.”

We forget that this man has come through that crushing battle that left our contry in the precarious political, social and economic situation we are in. And he reinvented himself having forged a public presence which is tempered and wise.

Al was speaking on Gross’s show Fresh Air to promote his book The Assault on Reason released in paperback. Gore maintains that our Constitution was written during the Age of Reason, which was defined by the printing press. Our founding fathers believed that the printed word by free presses — protected by the Bill of Rights (“freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly” ) — would create a well-informed citizenry. In today’s marketplace of ideas, Gore says, the TV funded by big business and self-interest groups has dominated and drained reason from the public sphere. While the Internet has not yet usurped TV’s power, the importance of keeping the Internet free of private interests and government intervention is tantamount to upholding our Constitution and most importantly the advance of public discourse.

So, though mainstream news outlets spin information according to their own interests, two women have been working away tirelessly to build a community and network of lesbian media professionals who, in turn, work for our freedoms and visibility. Three years ago Jennifer Howd and her then business partner began a National Media Conference for LGBT professionals called Q-Me Con (Queer Media & Entertainment Conference). They were able to attract corporate sponsorship as well as create an environment for aspiring professionals to network with executives and industry insiders. The first year was held in New York, the second year in Los Angles and this year Jennifer and her partner Sandra Madsen have launched the first Q-Me Con Women’s Summit.

The event takes place this Saturday in New York. The keynote speaker is Rose Troche, and other panelists include filmmaker Barbara Hammer, actress Heather Matarazzo, afterellen.com founder Sarah Warn, “Lesbian Sex and Sexuality” producer Katherine Linton, GO Magazine publisher Amy Lesser and yours truly, along with Diana Cage. Basically, there will be lesbians from all walks of the media landscape: print, TV, film, radio and the Internet participating in panels and discussions. A full schedule of events and seminars are online here. Diana and I are on a panel "The Lesbian/Bi/Queer Written Perspective: Blogs, Books and Mags." We hope to see some of you there.

The opening party will be held at the HK Lounge 523 9th Avenue at 39th Street, from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday night.