But not until recent years did gay leaders learn to use the ballot box as a vehicle for change.

It's time for some sensible gay leader to point this out.

Since then, he and other gay leaders said, the frontiers have changed.

"He wants to be the gay leader but acts as the agent provocateur."

But gay political leaders say the difference in attitude is striking nonetheless.

Still, in the end, gay leaders argued that the damage to the Democrats could prove minimal.

In the following days, gay leaders refused to apologize for the events of that night.

Mr. Green's decision to take sides drew fire from gay political leaders.

It also left other Democrats and gay leaders wondering if she had stumbled on a land mine.