The so-called "unity statement" that the Log Cabin Republicans signed with the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, the Human Rights Campaign and 18 other national gay groups is a mixed bag. The statement endorses the basic agenda of most gay activists, including support for hate crime laws (which add penalties on the basis of anti-gay motivation), and federal and state laws to outlaw job-related anti-gay discrimination.
But while most gays may support these goals, many libertarian and conservative-minded gays don't, believing that equal treatment is all gays should demand from the state; that violent acts, not violent thoughts, should be criminalized; and that private employers have a right to hire and fire whomever they please. But gay libertarians and conservatives are outside the framework of this unity.
The statement also follows the litany of proclaiming we're all part of a "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community," leading to a call, for instance, to end "the military's discriminatory anti-LGBT ban," meaning that cross-dressers, too, be allowed to enlist. But demanding a transgender-inclusive military (no discharge for Corporal Klinger) will set back efforts to let gays serve openly and honorably.
Also problematic, the statement declares, "We must continue to expose the radical right's efforts to advance a culture of prejudice and intolerance, and we must fight their attempts to enshrine anti-gay bigotry in our state and federal laws and constitutions." The problem here? While many anti-gay activists are bigots, not all are. Many misguidedly fear that same-sex matrimony will destabilize, rather than strengthen, marriage. They're wrong, but labeling them "bigots" who are part of the "radical right," when they are neither, does nothing to bring them around.
There are, however, some pluses. I was glad to see a positive
remark from President Bush is used to help advance the cause,
rather than eliciting knee-jerk condemnation. From the unity
statement:
In December, People magazine asked President and Mrs. Bush about civil unions. "Is a couple joined by that kind of legal arrangement as much of a family as, say, you two are a family?" "Of course," President Bush replied.
Bush's acknowledgement (despite his support for an anti-gay constitutional amendment) has set an important new minimum standard for future dialog surrounding same-sex couples and families..."
That's progress, since during the campaign when Bush criticized his own party's platform for opposing state-recognized civil unions, the Log Cabiners were silent and NGLTF and HRC actually condemned Bush's remarks. So the unity statement shows some headway here.
A final point: Patrick Guerriero, executive director of the Log
Cabin Republicans, said the statement's was intended "to send a
message...that we share a common vision." But while LCR is clearly
intent on finding unity with liberal gays, it appears less
concerned about finding unity with Republicans, or even gays who
might support equal treatment but not hate crimes, job laws and the
rest of the agenda. That's LCR's prerogative, of course, but it's
worth noting that it does leave a block of gays outside the bounds
of "unity."
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