Homosexual Republican Group Barred From NC GOP Convention
By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Morning Editor
May 20, 2004
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(CNSNews.com) - The North Carolina Republican Party is refusing to let the Log Cabin Republicans set up a booth at this weekend's state convention -- a move that has prompted complaints from the homosexual group that says it stands for "fairness, inclusion, and tolerance in the GOP."
"Log Cabin Republicans believe that at a time when our country is at war, we ought to be bringing Republicans together, not dividing them, and certainly not excluding them from their own state convention," said Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director Patrick Guerriero in a statement on the group's website.
Ed Farthing, a North Carolina Log Cabin Republican, said he purchased a table at the NC state convention on behalf of the group in early April.
But N.C. GOP Chairman Ferrell Blount recently returned the money, along with what the Log Cabin Republicans called "a lengthy vitriolic letter" that said the group could not have a table after all.
"To flip-flop and refuse to allow loyal Republicans a seat at their own convention is petty and short sighted," Farthing said in the statement on the Log Cabin website.
Blount's letter reportedly said that "homosexuality is not normal and should not be established as an acceptable 'alternative' lifestyle." He also said the North Carolina Republican Party and the Log Cabin Republicans "do not seem to share the same agenda."
At their state convention this weekend, N.C. Republicans will vote on a platform that opposes same-sex marriage, the adoption of children by homosexuals, and taxpayer-funded benefits plans for unmarried partners, The Advocate reported.
"We believe that homosexuality is not normal and should not be established as an acceptable 'alternative' lifestyle either in public education or in public policy," the proposed platform says.
The Log Cabin Republicans support same-sex marriage and have criticized President Bush for backing a Federal Marriage Amendment.
Beyond the marriage issue, the group says it also believes in low taxes, limited government, strong defense, free markets, personal responsibility, and individual liberty. "We also believe all Americans have the right to liberty, freedom, and equality," the website says.
The group said it wonders how Chairman Blount "can claim to represent the Republican Party and not share this agenda."
Chris Barron, Log Cabin's political director and a North Carolina native, accused Chairman Blount of dividing the GOP at a time when he should be uniting it: "Real issues face North Carolinians today...Our party should be talking about taxes, the war on terror, securing our children's future, and protecting North Carolina's economy," Barron said.
"With an important governor's race this fall, with a key senate race this fall, and with the balance of power in North Carolina's legislature up for grabs, the chairman of the North Carolina GOP should stop dividing Republicans," concluded Barron.
The Log Cabin Republicans reportedly have complained to the White House, to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, and to other Republican leaders about being excluded from the N.C. State Republican Convention, which begins on Friday.
Log Cabin Republicans describes itself as "the nation's largest organization of Republicans who support fairness, freedom, and equality for gay and lesbian Americans." |
