Earlier this week we asked Gay Politics Report readers what they thought the effect of the November elections would be on the makeup of Congress.  It turns out our readers are pretty optimistic about the Democrats’ ability to hold on to power in Washington.

More than half of the 723 respondents think the Democrats will keep both the House and the Senate, an outcome some national pollsters say is becoming less likely every day.

About a quarter expect Republicans to take over the House, but fall short of taking power in the Senate.

About 10% say the GOP will win full control of Congress, while another 10% say the Democrats will keep the House and lose the Senate.

Vote and get the latest results here.  Sign up for your free subscription to Gay Politics Report here.

Note:  This poll is not scientific and reflects the opinions of only those who have chosen to participate.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, an independent seeking a seat in the U.S. Senate, today told CNN’s Ed Henry that he would support a federal constitutional amendment prohibiting individual states from allowing same-sex couples to marry.

“When it comes to marriage, I think it is a sacred institution, I believe it is between a man and a woman,” Crist said, “but partners living together, you know, I don’t have a problem with it.”

“It’s just how I feel,” Crist added.

Anti-gay activists have repeatedly pushed Congress to consider a Federal Marriage Amendment, but it has never gathered enough support to pass.  The amendment was a central issue in the 2004 presidential election.

Currently five states and the District of Columbia allow same-sex couples to legally wed.  A federal constitutional amendment would end marriage equality in those jurisdictions.

UPDATE:  Well that was quick.  Hours after he said he still supported a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality for same-sex couples, Crist has retreated to a slightly more moderate position.  He issued the following clarification tonight:

“In an interview that aired today, I was not discussing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution banning same-sex marriage, which I do not support, but rather reaffirming my position regarding Florida’s constitutional ban that I articulated while running for Governor. In fact, the interviewer’s question reflected just that. I am fully supportive of civil unions and will continue to be as a United States Senator, but believe marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman.”

Earlier this week Gay Politics Report asked more than 20,000 readers whether the lack of discussion about LGBT issues such as marriage equality this political season is a good thing or a bad thing.  Our readers were divided.

Nearly half said it was a good thing.  They’re either tired of feeling like a political punching bag or maybe they really want candidates to focus on bread and butter issues like job creation and the economy.

About 41 percent believe it’s a bad thing.  They’d like to know where candidates stand on these issues.  Voting for a candidate who shares your values on taxes and the stimulus doesn’t necessarily mean he or she will support LGBT equality, and you won’t find out unless someone asks the right questions.

Ten percent of respondents weren’t sure.

Results are here.

Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund President and CEO Chuck Wolfe issued the following statement tonight regarding an announcement by the former chair of the Republican National Committee,  Ken Mehlman, that he is gay:

“Coming out is a personal decision, and it can have a profound impact on families, friends, colleagues and constituents.  We hope the fact that Ken Mehlman has reached this level of honesty will now encourage other political leaders to reject divisive anti-gay campaign tactics which, as Mr. Mehlman now admits, are purely cynical attempts to manipulate the American public,” Wolfe said.  ”We look forward to the day when all political leaders, regardless of party, are able to be honest about themselves and their families, and still rise to positions where they can lead by example.”

Mehlman led the GOP during administration of President George W. Bush when, in the 2004 and 2006 national elections, party officials deliberately used anti-gay political messaging to drive social conservatives to the polls, according to Marc Ambinder, who broke the news tonight:

Mehlman said at the time that he could not, as an individual Republican, go against the party consensus. He was aware that Karl Rove, President Bush’s chief strategic adviser, had been working with Republicans to make sure that anti-gay initiatives and referenda would appear on November ballots in 2004 and 2006 to help Republicans.

Mehlman acknowledges that if he had publicly declared his sexuality sooner, he might have played a role in keeping the party from pushing an anti-gay agenda.

The Arizona state legislature is likely to keep its five-member caucus of openly LGBT lawmakers after important primary elections Tuesday night.

Jack Jackson, Jr., a member of the Navajo Nation, was the top vote-getter in a three-way race for a seat in the Arizona Senate.  He would join State Sen. Paula Aboud, an out lesbian, Sen. Robert Meza, who is openly gay, and primary winner Kyrsten Sinema, an openly bisexual member of the State House who is likely to move up to the Senate.

In 2005, Jackson, a former member of the State House, was appointed by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as the Executive Director of the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs.  In April 2000, he was appointed by Secretary Donna Shalala to serve on President Clinton’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.   Today Jackson serves on the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise Board and the Obama Administration has selected him to once again serve on the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

In other primary races Tuesday, Steve Howard, an openly gay man, won the Democratic nomination to become Vermont’s next lieutenant governor.

Elsewhere, out candidates faced tough losses in some tough states.  In Florida, which has never elected an openly LGBT candidate to the state legislature, Justin Flippen came up short in his bid to unseat the incumbent District 92 State House member.  Also in Florida in the race to fill Rep. Kendrick Meek’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Scott Galvin was unable to overcome a significant fundraising disadvantage in his Democratic primary.