Kansas City, Mo. ? Early in her campaign for a state Senate seat, attorney Jolie Justus came across an anonymous flier bashing her as a “wild Lesbian from the inner-city.” She dismissed it with a laugh.

As today’s Democratic primary approaches, her sexual orientation has turned out to be not so much a liability as an asset. Strangers who could not place her district on a map – but who know she’s bidding to become the first openly gay state senator in Missouri – have donated almost $20,000, fully 20 percent of her campaign budget. Political consultants from thousands of miles away have advised her on strategy and linked her up with a national network of gay-rights supporters.

“It makes all the difference in the world,” Justus said.

That’s what gay-rights activists are hoping as they mobilize to promote openly gay and lesbian candidates for political office at every level. When a city council debates domestic partnerships or a state legislature weighs a hate crimes law, activists want gays and lesbians to be right there on the floor, personalizing the issue by sharing their stories – and, by their very presence, making it uncomfortable for their colleagues to vote “no.”

“We have to play political hardball,” said Marty Rouse, national field director for the Human Rights Campaign, a gay advocacy group.

Though their movement has made significant gains in recent years, many gays and lesbians still look at the legal landscape with despair. The goal of legally sanctioned gay marriage, meanwhile, seems farther off than ever. In the last two years, voters in 16 states overwhelmingly passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage. “We realize we’re losing these battles,” Rouse said. “So we’re creating an activist army to get involved like never before.”

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and its associated Leadership Institute will spend more than $4 million this year to boost gay and lesbian candidates. Along with making direct donations, its officers advise on strategy, draft political brochures, even train candidates in public speaking. The Human Rights Campaign has budgeted $3 million for similar efforts, though it also helps straight candidates who support gay rights.