Organizers say the forum marks the first time that major presidential candidates will appear on TV specifically to address gay issues. The event is orgainized by the Human Rights Campaign. HRC President Joe Solmonese, who wants the leading candidates to explain why they remain wary of gay marriage. tells the Associated Press: "I hope we can get genuinely heartfelt answers."
Logo's president Brian Graden says: "Simply seeing the candidates step on a stage to speak to a national gay television audience may be as moving as anything they say."
The Democrats will appear sequentially at 15-minute intervals during the two-hour forum, never sharing the stage with one another.
Here is what we know of their stands on some key issues so far, according to AP:
All of them support a federal ban on anti-gay job discrimination, favor repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy barring gays from serving openly in the military and support civil unions that would extend marriage-like rights to same-sex couples. But thus far, only two longshots -- Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel -- have endorsed nationwide recognition of same-sex marriage, which a majority of Americans oppose.