One of these states is Florida, which is currently facing the possibility of a constitutional amendment on this November's ballot. The amendment would not only outlaw same-sex marriages, already illegal by statute, but eliminate all forms of legal recognition for the state's domestic partners. Workshops ahead of the presidential primaries will be held across the state to educate volunteers and train them to address this crucial issue with the voting public.

In Nevada, HRC, in conjunction with organizations including the Stonewall Democrats, the Women's Empowerment Network, and the LGBT Center of Southern Nevada, will hold a rally in Las Vegas in the ramp-up to the Democratic and Republican caucuses on January 19th.

"It is critical," says HRC President Joe Solmonese, "that together we actively engage and motivate our community to elect fair-minded candidates to office."

"And in this presidential election year," he continues, "as we send staff and resources to areas throughout the country, we’ll work to give members of the GLBT community an opportunity to be part of the process."

"We are capitalizing on these early elections by using them as an opportunity to engage our community in a way that has never been seen before," HRC spokesman Brad Luna told PageOneQ. "Our organizing in Iowa and New Hampshire helped place the GLBT community at the center of the national political debate -- in a positive way for a change."

HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse said that HRC's work "alongside other GLBT organizations, in these critical battleground states has been incredibly effective here at the beginning of the 2008 election cycle. This organizing will allow us to play a vital role in the elections right up through November."

Efforts are also ongoing in Minnesota, Iowa, and New Hampshire.