With the presidential election two weeks from today, it’s time to review what is important for the LGBT community. You need to read, you need to understand what really is at stake, and then you need to go vote.

Mitt Romney has signed the National Organization for Marriage Pledge that states the following:

• He supports sending a federal marriage amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the states for ratification.

The kerfuffle concerning undocumented immigrants and legalizing same-sex marriage are usually competing and unresolved hot-button issues for voters heading toward the ballot box. Immigration advocates and LGBTQ rights groups have long tried to get its constituencies working together.

Historically, the efforts have been abysmal.

But organizations like Casa de Maryland, a community organization advocating for undocumented immigrants has formed an alliance with Equality Maryland and the Latino GLBT History Project.

So, the question I was asked is this: “Barb, do you really think I’m a bad person because I’m a Republican?” That question was followed by this: “You know I support gay rights; how can you say I don’t based on the fact that I’m voting for Mitt Romney? I’m not like Michele Bachmann or Rush Limbaugh and don’t you say I am.”

My official election ballot arrived in the mail on Tuesday, and I was as excited as always to exercise my right to vote.

I’ve voted in every single presidential election since I became eligible to vote, and my streak will continue this year when I mail back my ballot today.