“Okay, so McCain supposedly does not support a federal constitutional ban on marriage”

Supposedly?  Sen. McCain TWICE VOTED AGAINST the federal constitutional ban on marriage!  (YouTube here)  There is nothing “supposed” about that.  Sen. McCain has given a very specific (and unlikely…and long) list of things that must happen before he would support such a measure.  Those things haven’t happened and Sen. McCain remains opposed to such an amendment.  (For the record, Log Cabin has yet to make an endorsement for president.)

But, here’s the kicker.  Mr. Crawford then goes on to say the following:

“But, the leaders of LCR have a very clear choice to make: they can either stand with the Republican Party even as it continues its assault against LGBT Americans or they can stand with their LGBT brothers and sisters who are fighting every day to live their lives openly and honestly and free from anti-LGBT discrimination.”

(My emphasis bolded).  Implicit in that ridiculous sentence is that Log Cabin Republicans (and gay Republicans for that matter) are not living their lives openly and honestly.  I have news for you, Mr. Crawford.  Those of us at Log Cabin Republicans are living just as ”openly and honestly” as you are.  It’s an unfair and cheap attack on thousands of gay and lesbian Republicans who are all living their lives openly and honestly and with dignity every single day of their lives.  Gay and lesbian Republicans are EVERYWHERE.  They are, according to exit polls from 2000 and 2004, roughly 25% of all gay Americans. 

Now, disagree with us all you want.  That’s fine.  But stop attacking all gay Republicans and implying that we should live “openly and honestly.” 

I understand that progress with the GOP is not moving nearly as fast as Mr. Crawford and many would like.  I understand that.  I understand it is frustrating.  But I guess we have a fundamental difference as to what we should do with that frustration.  Some, like Mr. Crawford, say we should throw our hands up and stop engaging in conversations with Republicans.  Well, if we followed that course of action (which we won’t), I’d say good luck to you in your endeavor to achieve “equality” for gay and lesbian Americans, Mr. Crawford.  No civil rights struggle has been won with a one-party strategy…and neither will this one.

You may hate EVERYTHING the Republican Party stands for.  But don’t malign the efforts of good, decent gay and lesbian Republicans who are doing work for “our movement” that you would never have the courage to do.

-posted by Scott Tucker