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Compiled By GayToday
Washington, D.C.--Jean O'Leary, Chair of the Democratic National Committee's Gay and Lesbian American Caucus, has released an open letter to the Log Cabin Republicans, gay and lesbian advocates for gay rights who hope to make the Republican party "more inclusive" by working from within the GOP's varied circles.
Ms. O'Leary suggests, in response to recent Log Cabin criticisms of the Democrats, that gay Republicans criticize their own party first. The scope of Ms. O'Leary's perspective is notable in that she has remained at the helms of major lesbian and gay organizations since the Stonewall era. In 1973, Ms. O'Leary was on the founding board of the National Gay Task Force (Now the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force--NGLTF). Her enthusiasm for Democratic Party accomplishments, therefore, is based on a lifetime of observations and on political experiences at stage center. Ms. O'Leary's open letter, dated April 13, reads: Dear Mr. Tafel and Log Cabin Republicans, I was glad to hear that a prominent leader in the Republican party has decided that gays and lesbians are fit to be employed in government. We always welcome the support of leaders who agree with us on equality. I would be remiss, however, if I didn't respond to your statement of last Friday afternoon.
President Clinton and Vice President Gore have appointed the most inclusive Administration in history. Never before have we had over 200 openly gay and lesbian senior level White House and Administration officials including Virginia Apuzzo, Karen Tramantano, Richard Socarides, Fred Hochberg, Todd Dickinson, and John Berry. With the support from Democrats and help from a progressive Republican or two, maybe Trent Lott will call for a vote to confirm the first ever openly gay U.S. Ambassador. President Clinton and Vice President Gore deserve praise for their record of accomplishments and on-going commitment to equality for gay men and lesbians. The Clinton-Gore Administration has once again endorsed on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA). This is the first Administration in history to endorse non-discrimination legislation protecting gays and lesbians and the first President in history to discuss discrimination based on sexual orientation in his State of the Union address. In a White House announcement last week, President Clinton dedicated increased efforts to the passage of HCPA and a public-private partnership to reduce hate-related violence in schools. The Administration has countered your party's intolerance and its calculated agenda of discrimination. We have waged and won considerable legislative battles against an extremely anti-gay Republican majority--battles over legislation endorsed by Republican leadership. Fortunately, the efforts of the Administration were successful. With the Hefley Amendment, Republican leaders tried but failed to gut President Clinton's Executive Order banning discrimination against gays and lesbians in the federal civilian workforce. The Republican-endorsed Largent Amendment, which would have banned adoptions by unmarried couples in the District of Columbia, was stripped from Appropriations legislation only because the Clinton-Gore Administration insisted on it.
Until your hard work helps Republican leaders cease the gay-baiting and gay-bashing and start talking about gay and lesbian equality, your criticism would be more productive directed toward your own party. Sincerely, Jean O'Leary, Chair DNC Gay and Lesbian American Caucus |
