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By M. G. Stauffer
I hoped that when I walked in I would see Black and White Couples, someone in leather, Asians, Hispanics and other groups. I had this wonderful "dream" of Log Cabin being very diverse. Initially the picture my eyes observed and ears heard was quite different. This event was so "Country Club" that your Grandmother could have attended; her only lament being - "Where are all these men's wives?" The near capacity crowd of 400 was almost stereotypical of how the media and the Democrats describe Republicans; the men were all well groomed three piece suit types. Few wore ear rings and those who did wear them made sure that the stone in the ear ring(s) matched their ties. As I looked around no nose, tongue, eye brow rings visible. I didn't see a single woman that didn't have on a nice morning cocktail dress or business suit except for the lesbian from Columbus, Ohio sitting next to me in her tight leather pants, boots but a woman executive's top and jewelry. My table had people who are either elected officials, large contributors or top executives. The very handsome man sitting on my left owns a huge development company in Arizona and was quite proud that 4 of the 5 gay elected officials in Arizona were Republicans. His direct quote was that he was "slap ass proud that 4 of the 5 are Republicans". I glanced at the list of corporate sponsors--Agouron Pharmaceuticals, A Pfizer Company, Coors Brewing Company - thank you Mary Cheney, Microsoft, Republican Leadership Council, Southern California Edison and Verizon. Can't have a political gathering without some soft money flowing. As the formalities began I was thinking about ways I could sneak out and return to the office. The minister standing to give the invocation--what GOP event is official without prayer--looked like he had just arrived from the Lutheran Church in Lake Woebegone, Minnesota. Actually he is from D.C. and pastor of a very inclusive and socially active church. Initial impressions are deceiving. That was the last moment I wanted to leave. Friday January 19, 2001 may mark a turn in what the Republican Party is about. The Unity Coalition grew out of George W. Bush's meeting last summer with 12 gay Republicans. The Republican Unity Coalition like the Ripon Society is intended to be a coalition within the Republican party to hold the party leaders feet to the fire of old line Republican virtues.
Simpson's country quips also included the summation that the current party is controlled by those that tend to eat their own babies. Membership in the Republican Unity coalition will be by invitation to Republican leaders-- both straight and gay--in the fields of public policy, party activism, or government service, and who have an interest in fostering a more tolerant approach toward the gay and lesbian community by the Republican party. Members will serve as an informal advisory body, available to assist Republican elected officials as requested. Among the members of the Host Committee were Gov. George Pataki, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, David Catania, former Wisconsin Congressman Steve Gunderson, Congressman Jim Kolbe, Hon. Steve May, Councilwoman Carol Schwartz ( R) District of Columbia, Sen Gordon Smith of Oregon, Mary Matalin, Congresswoman Deborah Pryce of New Jersey, Sen. John Warner of Virginia, and California Senate GOP Leader Jim Brulte. All in all a fairly influential group of Republicans.
Members may occasionally be called upon to assist in the coalition's efforts to educate policy makers and opinion leaders at the highest levels, regarding issues facing the gay community, as well as constructive responses that are consistent with core Republican principles. Senator Simpson told a story that I think might have given Bush a clear cut victory. He talked first about being a friend of Dick Cheney for many years. He told how close Cheney and his daughter are--respecting each other, loving each other, advising each other. Simpson also told of another friend who seemed particularly down and Simpson asked why. After a very long hesitation the parent said that his daughter was a lesbian and he hadn't spoken to her for over 5 years. Simpson asked his Wyoming friend how he could possibly unlove someone simply because of who they loved? Eventually the unnamed parent wrote a letter to his daughter and their relationship has grown and matured. If these two stories had been told during the campaign the resonance with so many parents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews just might have got them to change their vote. That honesty or if you will compassionate conservatism might have given more credence to the Republican Campaign. The stated purpose of The Republican Unity coalition is a policy forum for Republicans - both straight and gay - who will work together in a unified effort to encourage greater inclusion of gays and lesbians, to support public policy that constructively addresses the issues faced by gays and lesbians in America and to join forces on issues of interest to all Republicans. All who subscribe to the core Republican principles of limited government, free enterprise, strong defense, and personal responsibility, and who also seek a society that is more tolerant of gay and lesbian people, are encouraged to support the work of the Republican Unity coalition. The Republican Unity Coalition plans to follow a "gay-straight alliance" model in its organization and in its approach to public policy issues. Thus, it cannot fairly be described as a "gay rights advocacy group." Rather, it is designed to be a forum for Republican leaders--both straight and gay--to exchange ideas that will help the Republican party reach out to the gay and lesbian community, to understand the issues that affect that community, and to respond in a constructive manner. Congressman Tom Davis, Chairman of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee warned that the Republicans can't hope to govern or win elections unless they pay attention to this year's election map by county. He noted that while the Republicans won the vast majority of rural areas there were virtually no urban areas where the GOP prevailed.
Councilman David Catania one of two Republican Councilpeople in Washington, DC gave perhaps the most "radical" for a Republican speech. In his remarks he repudiated many of the planks of the 2000 GOP platform that Bush ran on. Pointing out its unfair definition of family among other issues of concern to all minorities. It was clear that he has given the 2000 GOP platform a thorough reading. His points were articulate and to the point. If D.C. ever gets the chance to have a vote in Congress watch for Catania to run to replace Eleanor Holmes Norton who has been a bulwark of support for our community and the district. I wish Ms. Norton a long life and continued success in her position representing the District in Congress but if she retires.......Vote Catania. As I left the breakfast I could only hope that the Republican Unity Coalition is successful. I hope they can rescue the GOP from Christian Fundamentalists, Bigots of every stripe and other neo-nazi types who currently pour acid on both the GOP and American Society. I have a small hope, a small dream but small or not, hopes and dreams are better than nothing and nothing is what the GOP has offered minorities for the last 30 years. Addendum: It took less than a week for the religious right to feel threatened by the Republican Unity Coalition. The director of "Americans for Truth Project" issued the following on Thursday, January 25, 2001: Press Release Washington, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/-- The director of the Americans for Truth Project urged President Bush to distance his administration from a new pro-homosexual Republican group that counts one of his top aides, Mary Matalin, among its supporters. The Republican Unity Coalition (RUC) (republicanunity.cjb.net ) bills itself as a "gay straight alliance" within the Republican Party. On January 19, the group held an "Inaugural Breakfast" that drew some senior GOP politicians, including Rep. Tom Davis (Va.), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, Sen. John Warner (Va.), and former Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson.
Peter LaBarbera, director of Kerusso's Americans for Truth Project, said the RUC/Log Cabin analysis is "clever gay spin" but far from reality: "It is much more likely that Al Gore's embrace of the radical homosexual agenda helped propel Bush into the White House. Gore lost his own state of Tennessee partly because his liberal social agenda turned off so many voters," he said. "President Bush can't afford to alienate his Christian conservative base by embracing that same agenda. He must not allow the GOP to become a tool for normalizing wrong and destructive behavior." Americans for Truth is a Washington, D.C.-based project of Kerusso Ministries, headquartered in Newport News, Virginia. Since 1989, Kerusso has provided a Christian perspective regarding homosexuality as it relates to both ministry and public policy. M.G. Stauffer: I find it fascinating that the religious right finds the Republican Unity Coalition to be a threat. I also see it as a tribute to the Log Cabin Republicans that they have now managed to make enough inroads into educating important leaders of the Republican Party that the religious right finds it necessary to attack. Notice that they dismiss 4% of self identified gays who voted despite our being larger than the Jewish or Asian vote. I take their above statements as an indication of their paranoia that traditional mind your own business, spend tax money wisely Republicans are not going to allow the party to continue down the road of self destruction on the rocks of theocracy. I know that some of my Democratic friends will scoff at the positive tone of this piece. Some will say that Log Cabin Republicans are wasting their time and energy. I say to them that Log Cabin Republicans are part and parcel of the G/L/B/T community. If you scoff at, deride their positions and lament the endorsements they may make for the sake retaining the ear of those who make the final decisions then you are like the religious right insisting on a litmus test of who can be openly gay/lesbian/bi/transsexual. You are saying that only radical liberal Democrats have anything to contribute to the movements success. We need and must have those gay academics who can make the conservative case for gay equality. If indeed married couples take less government support and money because they are married... if people in relationships suffer fewer heart attacks, mental health problems, and drug abuse problems, then one of our academics should push the numbers and show how much different levels of government would save, how much bigger corporate profits would be by encouraging stability by formal recognition of all relationships. We can beat our opponents on their own field of battle. An opponent defeated on their own terms and proving their arguments false is a truly defeated opponent. My own desire is that people in both parties and particularly Gay Democrats and Gay Republicans might be smart enough to find qualified gay people to run against each other thus diffusing the gay issue and making the voters concentrate on the different solutions to problems that the candidates would put forward. Members of Congress and the Senate are frequently people who started out as local school board members, members of council or mayors and then stepped up to the state legislature and higher elected posts. The job and duty of both the Log Cabin Republicans and the Gay Democratic caucus should be hard recruiting of candidates for these offices. Success for our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community rests upon the average citizen from Boise to Altoona getting out and making us visible through our participation in government. Let us not be acted upon, Let us not be relegated to pleading our case before people in power, let us seek to be among those who make the decisions that form public policy not just now but for the future. Our battle is two fold--protect gay children, protect gay elders--they suffer most from the abuses of the bigots. Copyright 2000 Marc M. G. Stauffer |
M.G. Stauffer 
Former Sen. Alan Simpson 
Rep. Tom Davis 
Vice President Dick Cheney 
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