Cabin Fire. An anti Log Cabin Republican screed by Sarah Wildman in the New Republic's April 29 issue, titled "The Log Cabin Republicans Collapse," forgoes credible criticism for knee-jerk bashing. She's appalled that the LCR is "cheering blatantly anti-gay policies and appointees" of the Bush administration. An example? "[W]hen Bush nominated John Ashcroft, one of the Senate's most consistently anti-gay members, to be attorney general, LCR supported the appointment." Five paragraphs later she tosses aside LCR's explanation that the group had "exacted statements of support from Ashcroft during his nomination process."
In fact, thanks to lobbying by LCR and others, during his confirmation testimony Ashcroft stated repeatedly that sexual orientation would not be a consideration in Justice Department employment or appointments, that he would enforce all laws and regulations protecting gay and lesbian federal workers from employment discrimination, that the gay and lesbian DOJ Pride employee organization would continue to meet and organize in the Department under his leadership, and that federal civil rights laws will be vigorously enforced. Shortly after his confirmation, LCR's leadership 's secured an unprecedented meeting with the new attorney general at his office in the Department of Justice, where he pledged, according to LCR, that he would "enforce the law equally for all Americans, and that equal protection under the law means that no one will be left out."
As I previously noted, to the surprise of many liberals, Ashcroft recently invoked the federal Hate Crimes Sentencing Enhancement Act in an indictment for the slaying of two lesbian hikers in Shenandoah National Park, in Virginia. According to the Justice Department, "The United States maintains that the defendant hated women and lesbians and that hatred was a motive for his killing""
Isn't this the way it's supposed to work? Or would liberals simply prefer shouting "Bigot, bigot go away" to actually working with conservatives and advancing their attitudes on gay and lesbian issues? Of course, the answer is the former.
Bush the homophobe? More evidence that the charge that the Bush administration is anti-gay is ludicrous. As the conservative Washington Times reported this week, the administration "has joined European delegates to the upcoming U.N. summit on children in moving to recognize families 'in various forms,' including unmarried cohabitating couples and homosexual partners." This is in opposition to a coalition of Catholic and Muslim countries that has formed to block the proposed change to the tradition U.N. definition of the family -- married heterosexual parents and children -- that the General Assembly's Special Session on Children will take up next next month. The article quoted an unnamed official who explained the U.S. supports the proposal to recognize families "in various forms" because "obviously we feel this more reflects the families of today, which are headed by single parents and extended families."
Now that the news is out, the rightwing can be expected to mobilize against the administration's position. Which is why we need gay Republican's with some clout to lobby the other way. Shouldn't this be obvious to liberals? (Sorry, another dumb question.)
Cheney Joins Pro-Gay Group's Board. That's Mary Cheney, the veep's out-lesbian daughter (what will those homophobic Republicans think of next?). As reported on andrewsullivan.com on April 22, she's joined the board of the Republican Unity Coalition, sort of a gay-straight alliance within the GOP to advance gay inclusion and participation within the Grand Old Party. According to Sullivan's report, Mary Cheney stated, "Working together we can expand the Republican Party's outreach to non-traditional Republicans; we can make sexual orientation a non-issue for the Republican Party; and we can help achieve equality for all gay and lesbian Americans." Now that"s sure to make the "no enemies on the left; no friends on the right" branch of the gay movement go absolutely ballistic.