Gay activist Keith Boykin and Chrissy Gephardt, the lesbian daughter of former presidential candidate Dick Gephardt (Democrat - Missouri) are among the twelve contestants vying for the Presidency in American Candidate, Showtime's new political reality TV show.

Producers say the show will be based on Survivor a hit on Showtime's big brother network CBS and will run over 10 weeks where each week, candidates will plot campaign strategy, campaign for support, respond to e-mails from viewers and make statements aimed at getting public support.

Chrissy Gephard is a 31-year-old public relations consultant who is active in National Stonewall Democrats and had worked on her father's bid for the White House. Gephard Senior dropped out of the race in January but is being touted as a potential running mate for John Kerry.

Earlier this year, Chrissy's parents joined Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). In March, Dick Gephardt roasted President George Bush for the president's support of a constitutional amendment to bar gay marriage in an address to the group in Washington.

"I must tell you I am ashamed when top leaders in this country and citizens of this country and even the president of the United States suggest to the people of this country that there should be an amendment to the constitution to take away rights from people rather than giving rights to people," Gephardt said.

Boykin who is the president of the National Black Justice Coalition and had once served as a special assistant to President Clinton had kicked off his campaign Tuesday night with a speech at the LGBT Community Center in New York. The Harvard Law School graduate had notably worked on five political campaigns before joining the Clinton/Gore campaign in 1992.

According to the web site, producers hope the American Candidate will "provide a forum for new and diverse ideas and a path to national prominence for people with a passion to make a difference" and to "provoke discussion and debate about what our nation is really looking for in a president and involve more people in the political process."

Viewers can vote for their favourite candidate at the end of each episode. At the end of the series, the final two candidates will have a face off. The winner gets US$200,000 and a nationwide media appearance after the show so the American Candidate can make his or her address to the nation. The show will premiere in early August through October 2004.