Netroots Nation Day 2

Yesterday went swimmingly at the LGBT Pre-Conference, which basically consisted of the LGBT movement's leaders on the internet discussing important issues that beset the gay blogging community.  We discussed wide and varied topics such as coalition building between citizen journalists (bloggers) and gay organizations (think GLAAD and HRC), identifiable obstacles facing the movement, and the plight of gay immigrants who are also undocumented.

The real bread-and-butter of the event was, of course, networking.  I met quite a few amazing people, ranging from Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend to Rod McCullom, former HuffPo contributor turned independent blogging journalist.  While the sessions involved in the LGBT Pre-Conference were both informative and constructive, Rod and I observed that a topic dear to both of us (HIV) was sadly underrepresented.  We posited that the gay community is fatigued on the issue and that there is still a prevailing stigma about attaching the disease to gay concerns.

It ended with a mixer the LGBT group had with the Labor representatives here to show for unions at Netroots, after which I took a much-needed nap.  My friend Dan Choi then arrived, and we retired to the hotel for PBR and a great deal of catching up.

Today the convention truly starts, with 70 panels over the next few days kicking off with a news dump at 8 AM.  I stayed up a bit too late chewing the fat with Choi, but am looking forward to the various presentations available at the Convention Center.  I'll update you on the juicy tidbits as I continue along the day alongside, of course, my regular news coverage.