Log Cabin Republicans
The Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) are a nationwide organization of the LGBT movement in the United States with political ties to the US Republican Party . The organization has long been committed to the civil rights of gays and lesbians within the Republican Party .
On December 18, 2006, Patrick Sammon was elected as the new President of the LCR; he succeeded Patrick Guerriero, who resigned to head the Gill Action Fund .
history
The organization name is a reference to the first Republican president , Abraham Lincoln , in a log cabin , a log cabin was born in Canadian log construction.
From the 1970s onwards, several LGBT groups and organizations politically close to Republicans emerged in the United States. The LCR, founded in 1977, was in response to the Briggs Initiative in California , the first popular poll designed to restrict lesbian and gay civil rights. Specifically, it was about the attempt by MP John Briggs to ban homosexual teachers from working in public schools because he was of the opinion that children should be protected from homosexual teachers. The referendum was rejected with over a million votes. Opponent of the referendum was also the Republican, ex-governor and later President Ronald Reagan .
During Ronald Reagan's presidency, the LCR became quieter; No progress on LGBT rights was made in the 1980s. Instead , the AIDS crisis since 1982 overshadowed the debate about LGBT rights.
It was not until the 1990s that the LCR received heightened national attention when its 1992 annual meeting was held in The Woodlands , Texas (a remote suburb of Houston). The main issue there was whether the LCR should support the re-election of George Bush . The assembly decided against it.
When Republican candidate Bob Dole ran for president in 1995, the LCR donated $ 1,000 to support his election campaign; however, the Dole campaign refused to accept this donation. Detroit News columnist Deb Price made inquiries and received a written statement from the campaign team that Bob Dole was 100 percent inconsistent with the LCR agenda. After the LCR initially supported the election of Republican President George W. Bush in 2000 , they refused to provide further support in 2004. The main reason they cited was the President's support for the Federal Marriage Amendment .
The LCR stated:
“In the run-up to the 2004 elections, the radical right dragged the Republican leadership into a culture war. Since the polls look unfavorable for them, the radical right is responding with even more desperate rhetoric. They exploit the fears of lesbian and gay civil marriages in their efforts to stage a public backlash. However, such fear tactics have failed and will fail again in the past. That's because most Americans understand the importance of freedom. It is not reserved for a select few, but we all have the right to freedom ("freedom") and personal freedom ("liberty"). "
While the LCR did not support the re-election of George W. Bush, they did for Arnold Schwarzenegger in California, who signed various individual laws to improve the rights of LGBT people in California. In 2006, the LCR donated $ 10,000 to the Californians for Schwarzenegger campaign fund .
structure
The organization of the LCR consists of 47 local chapters and 39 organizing committees; thus it is represented in all 50 states. A general meeting is held annually in various locations across the United States.
Known members include Marc Cherry , Jim Kolbe , Michael Huffington, and Mike Gin, Mayors of Redondo Beach , California.
program
The Log Cabin Republicans emphasize their allegiance to the Republican Party. On their website, they state: “We are loyal Republicans” and “We believe in low taxes , a lean state , strong defense , free markets , personal responsibility and individual freedom . Log Cabin represents an important part of the American family - tax-paying, hard-working people who proudly believe in the greatness of this nation. ” The Log Cabin Republicans take no position on the issue of abortion .
However, the LCR deviates from conservative Republican views on lesbian and gay rights. "We also believe that all Americans have the right to freedom (" liberty "), freedom (" freedom ") and equality," says their website. “Log Cabin stands against those who preach hatred and intolerance . We stand for the idea that all Americans deserve to be treated equally - regardless of their sexual orientation . "
criticism
Many socially conservative Republicans refuse to recognize the LCR as part of the Republicans. And many Republican incumbents refuse to meet with LCR members or to respond to LCR initiatives. For example, said Republican Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas , that the activities of LCR was damaging the party of the Republicans. Nevertheless, the LCR can find contacts and supporters in moderate Republican politicians, such as Christine Todd Whitman , or republican groups such as It's My Party Too , Ann Stone's Republicans for Choice , The Republican Majority for Choice , The Wish List , Republicans for Environmental Protection and Republican Main Street Partnership .
See also
swell
- ↑ Paul Schindler: Log Cabin's Guerriero Talks Aggressive Strategy ( Memento of the original of September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Gay City News, January 4, 2006, at logcabin.org
- ↑ Press release Log Cabin Republicans National Board Selects Patrick Sammon as New President ( Memento of the original from September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , December 18, 2006
- ^ A b Matt Alsdorf: An interview with Kevin Ivers of the Log Cabin Republicans , The Advocate at planetout.com
- ↑ Richard Tafel: Party Crasher , Simon & Schuster, New York 1999, ISBN 0-684-83764-1 , pp. 167-168
- ^ Electiontrack.com
- ↑ Log Cabin Republicans: Chapters ( Memento of the original dated August 7, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Press release: Coalition of Mainstream Republican Groups Calls for Party Unity Plank in GOP Platform ( Memento of the original of September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , August 16, 2004
