By Terry Bean

A few years ago on the heels of Patrick Guerriero’s excellent leadership, I directed a substantial gift to Log Cabin’s 501 (c)(3) Liberty Education Forum because I saw in the organization the promise of making real progress within the Republican Party on our issues. After a long discussion with Patrick Sammon, Guerriero’s successor at Log Cabin, I came away feeling confident that he also had the savvy to channel the power of GLBT Republicans to move the party in a more reasoned and principled direction.

Although I am an absolute, life-long, “dyed-in-the-wool” Democrat, I know that we need some Republican support to win our equality. It took Republican support to finally win passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and it will take that same united effort to win our rights. Realizing this important history makes supporting any organization that can move the GOP worthwhile. I had hoped that Log Cabin could be that force, but with the organization on the verge of endorsing John McCain’s candidacy for President, I fear that the fruition of that hope will be long deferred.

John McCain has one of the worst voting records on LGBT issues in the Senate. In fact, he has voted against our equality at every opportunity except one. Here is his record:

• Against ENDA
• Against ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
• Against the Matthew Shepard Act Hate Crimes Act
• Against partnership recognition of any kind
• Against partner immigration rights
• Against any repeal of DOMA
• For anti-gay state constitutional amendments such as those in California, Florida and Arizona
• Will appoint anti-LGBT judges like Justice Scalia and Alito

During his question and answer session with Evangelical Pastor Rick Warren, in response to a question about which current members of the Supreme Court he would not have nominated if he were President, McCain rattled off the names Ginzberg, Breyer, Souter and Stevens. These are the only sitting members of the court who can be counted on to rule on the side of equality for LGBT people. Without them, the outcome of any cases affecting our lives that come before the Court is clear – WE LOSE! And this could potentially include overturning Lawrence v Texas, thus re-criminalizing sodomy.

A few days earlier, McCain was asked by a reporter whether New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is under consideration as a possible running mate. McCain left no wiggle room in ruling Bloomberg out: “…Bloomberg is pro-gay rights…”

The fact that a national GLBT organization would even consider endorsing a candidate with this abysmal record is astonishing; the fact that they might actually do it is truly reprehensible. An endorsement by a political organization is much more than “a Good Housekeeping stamp of approval.” It means money and volunteer resources for the campaign. It means a full court press to elect John McCain as the next President.

If Log Cabin’s probable action, even in some small way, would move John McCain and/or the Republican Party to a more enlightened position on our struggle for equality, I would swallow hard and say go for it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. It will have no positive effect whatsoever. The message Log Cabin is sending is that their Party can continue its hostility to our community and still garner its enthusiastic support. I can’t believe that the many fair-minded Republican members of Log Cabin are going to be happy with the disingenuous path their national leaders are taking their organization. It hurts Log Cabin and it damages our community.

Tags: John McCain, LGBT rights, Log Cabin Republicans, Terry Bean

This entry was posted on Monday, August 25th, 2008 at 1:03 pm and is filed under John McCain, LGBT rights, Out and Proud, Republicans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.