Gay Republicans fight back
Gay organisation the Log Cabin Republicans are mad as hell and they’re not going to take it any more.
Speaking outside the Republican National Convention Monday, LCR executive director Patrick Guerriero said the radical right had hijacked the Republican Party and that simple integrity required gay Republicans to fight back.
The Republican Party has to make a choice, Guerriero said.
We can unite on those things that bring us together or we can continue the politics of intolerance and fear that only lead to hate. The Republican Party can’t have it both ways.
Guerriero said President George Bush’s desire to amend the US constitution to ban same-sex marriage -“ combined with the Republican rejection of civil unions and even domestic-partner benefits -“ had launched a fight for the heart and soul of the Republican Party.
For too long we have watched while the radical right hijacked our party, he said.
And for too long we have been asked to be loyal foot soldiers on election day, and asked to remain silent as the far right hijacked our platform and our policy agenda.
The day before the convention started, Log Cabin hosted a Big Tent Event attended by gay-friendly Republican politicians.
New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg said the party was for all Americans.
I have stood up every time I’ve had the opportunity, no matter what the setting was, to say the same thing, Bloom-berg said.
I am a believer that what makes America and New York great is its inclusiveness and its willingness to let everybody be who they are, and I will always stand for that regardless of whether it happens to be politically correct or not.
Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter said the party would see the light on gay equality eventually.
There’s a lot of muscle and a lot of prestige and a lot of prominence behind the gay and lesbian community -“ and that’s the way it ought to be, he said.
In the long sweep of history, or maybe even the short sweep of history, those who favour gay rights and those who favour equality are on the right side of the issue.
Log Cabin will not decide whether to endorse Bush until after the Republican National Convention, but all indications are that the group will advise gay and lesbian Americans who voted for the president in 2000 not to do so again.