Edwards courts the US gay vote

US Democrats presidential hopeful John Edwards has touted his credibility in the gay and lesbian community in a bid to win party votes.

He made an announcement on his official website this week listing the names of LGBT leaders who have endorsed his candidacy.

I am honoured to have the support of so many well-respected LGBT leaders, Edwards wrote on his site.

They work hard every day to make our country a better place and I am proud to join with them to fight for equal rights for all Americans.

The signatories included Sex And The City producer Darren Star, former Clinton advisor David Mixner and board members from powerful lobby groups.

After years of anti-gay government actions, support for the gay community is proving surprisingly popular among Democrats candidates.

Edwards and other front-runners Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton have spoken out against the US military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Clinton received a warm response from the leaders of the Human Rights Campaign when she spoke at one of the organisation’s recent board meetings.

Obama has also told reporters he supported civil unions for same-sex couples, and has been a member of a church that supported gay rights.

George Bush’s successful campaign team in 2004 used socially divisive issues such as gay marriage and abortion rights to mobilise so-called values voters to turn out and vote republican.

Edwards, who is married with three children, was the subject of an anti-gay slur earlier this year when controversial right-wing columnist Ann Coulter called him a faggot during an address at a conservative conference.