As a diehard Democrat, the 2012 GOP primaries look bleak to me. I do believe in nonpartisan government as long as the candidates are pro-gay and pro-choice. Over the last few years I've interviewed a number of openly gay Republicans, including R. Clarke Cooper, Executive Director of the Log Cabin Republicans. After Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum finished head to head in the Iowa Caucus, I thought this would be an ideal time to talk to Clarke about the GOP candidates running for president and where they stand on gay rights.
The last time Democrats and Republicans were in agreement on LGBT issues was during the Carter-Ford election back in 1976. When asked where the Republican Party stands on our LGBT issues today, Cooper stated:
Well, Charlotte, that's a very good question, and that's a question asked by fellow Republicans within the party. There's actually a divide that's mostly generational within the party. What I mean by that is one can look at the generational groups within the party. Log Cabin Republicans are only one of many ancillary groups in the party. We happen to be the gay group, but you also have groups that are more generationally oriented. Young Republicans, College Republicans are where you find most of your millennials, the people who are 30 and under. Why is this important, you ask? It is important because these are the registered Republicans who are either supportive of gay rights at best or minimally are agnostic when it comes to issues like marriage equality, employment nondiscrimination, or, at the time, the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." It's a huge divide, and that's not just anecdotal; it's actually measured by internal polling by conservatives for conservatives, and also reflective in polling in media like CNN, ABC, you name it. It is noted by the party that there is that shift.
Cooper actually came out while working for the George W. Bush administration. He's an Army Reserve Captain who served in Iraq during DADT. The Log Cabin Republicans were instrumental in the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Clarke also shared with me what it's like serving as an officer in the Army Reserve today, after the repeal of DADT. We also discussed how he would rate the Obama administration's performance on LGBT civil rights and what advice he would have for LGBTQ teens who face bullying incidents.
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Taylor Garrett: Gay Republicans: A Defense
In a way, I see it as a betrayal of oneself.
It's constructive for us to engage both parties. When a Republican is brave and supports the community, as Olympia Snow, Ted Olson and others - we should be VERY supportive of them.
If we only support the DNC, they will simply take us for granted, as they have recently. It's what made them lose so badly in 2010. For the first time in my adult life, I didn't write them a check or go to the polls because they had done absolutely nothing.
We won't be free without the help of the GOP - that's a fact. So, it's best to engage them where we can and reward those who are brave enough to go against the evangelicals in the party.
Proof: The Log Cabin Republicans were instrumental fighting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Yet, every single GOP presidential candidate on the stage last weekend opposed DADT repeal, and most want to re-institute it.
If you are gay, you are free to support Republicans if you put right-wing policies above your own personal freedoms. But if you are gay and value your personal freedoms, the Republican Party offers you nothing.
I was a limit out donor to the DNC and some of their candidates. When the DNC held the White House, the Senate and the House and did nothing for gay people, I knew they were only interested in our money.
So, I've redirected my money to legal advocacy groups and black crow organizations.
I cannot, as a matter of principle, be a member of EITHER party.
I, too, no longer give to the DNC, etc. All my charitable/non-profit money goes towards aiding the unfortunate/disaster recovery, hospitals, environmental justice, and in regards to gay rights, it's all to the lawyers, man. GLAD. All the way.
Yeah; if by 'instrumental' you mean The Log Cabin Republicans stood behind other gay rights groups who had been fighting DADT for years just to yell "Yeah, us too." at the VERY last minute.
Its the like telling an African American person its not that I hate you because of your dark skin color but the fact that you do not have white skin.
LGBT Republicans to help change the hearts & minds of the GOP if we are to achieve
LGBT Equality.