Did I mention that Patrick Guerriero is a Republican? Guerriero is the executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, the largest lobby in the nation for members of the GOP who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, or allies. For those of you who know me, I've often been heard quoting a line from Will and Grace which goes something like, "What you're saying isn't weird. Now, gay Republicans – that's weird!" And, on the surface, it's true: The Republican party platform put forth at the RNC last August was terrifyingly anti-gay, introducing a radical right-wing agenda to deprive queer couples of marriage rights, partnership benefits, adoption rights, employment non-discrimination rights, and almost any other rights you can imagine. Is it any surprise that the first question from the audience at the end of Mr. Guerriero's speech regarded how he reconciles being part of a party whose platform preaches hate against him?
His answer was logical and convincing. Though he acknowledged these difficulties, he also promoted the idea that working within the GOP is by far the best way to change it. He pointed out that fifty percent of the delegates at the RNC were in favor of same-sex civil unions, that most of the primetime speakers at that convention were against the Federal Marriage Amendment and that Democrats alone will never have enough votes to pass the important legislation needed to secure lasting civil rights for the LBGT community. This last point resonated with me particularly well.
By demonizing the entire Republican Party as prejudiced and heterosexist, the Liberal Left has the potential to push the party further into the hands of the Religious Right. Bigots like Rick Santorum, Jerry Falwell and Pat Buchanan are the exception, not the rule, but pretending otherwise only gives them more power and legitimacy. Real change can only be achieved when moderate Republicans become willing to step forward and say that gay rights are civil rights, and that this issue is important enough to override the petty differences of partisan politics. That will only happen as a result of efforts of groups like the Log Cabin Republicans, and, sadly, not likely due to more leftist groups like the GLBT Task Force or Human Rights Campaign. That's not to belittle those groups' amazing and valuable work. Indeed, the incredible transformation of the Democratic Party is owed largely to them. However, pigs may fly over Washington before President Bush takes a meeting with Cheryl Jacques, and we badly need intelligent gay rights advocates in the White House.
The Republican Party still has a long, long way to go, and the Log Cabin Republicans acknowledge this. For example, Bill Frist, the Senate Majority Leader, has long been an avid opponent of any measures to secure gay rights. Jim DeMint, the Republican senatorial candidate in South Carolina, has gone on record saying that gays and lesbians (not to mention single mothers) should not be allowed to teach in public schools. Rick Santorum was allowed to retain his position as chair of the Republican Leadership Conference in spite of his horrendously homophobic remarks in early 2003. President Bush has done his best to divide the nation on the issue of gay marriage, going so far as attempting to pervert our Constitution to limit the rights of gay Americans on the basis of his own religious beliefs-or, perhaps even worse, on the basis of Karl Rove's sickening strategies.
The Log Cabin Republicans understand that their party's leadership has big problems, and that's why they made the momentous decision not to endorse President Bush for reelection in 2004. Of all the wonderful statements Patrick Guerriero shared with us on Thursday night, the one I took most to heart was this: When I asked him about the ramifications of the decision not to endorse President Bush, he told me that he lost his spot on the White House Christmas card list, that he'd no longer be invited to some Washington cocktail parties. But, he said, he'd be able to keep his conscience; he'd be able to sleep at night. He considered it to be a worthy trade-off. So do I.
I don't agree with Patrick Guerriero's stance on tax policy, healthcare policy, welfare policy, or a myriad of other focal issues which shape partisan politics in America. I do, however, consider him to be a patriot in the truest sense of the word, as one who loves his country and zealously supports his fellow citizens, who is willing to fight the unpopular fight, the fight we must win for the health and well-being of our nation. It's heartening to see a group of Republicans who actually work to live up to the standard of "The Party of Lincoln," the president whose birthplace coined their group's title. I'm confident that Honest Abe would have supported their cause, and I'm proud to say that I do, too.