It's okay to be a gay Republican, provided no one in the party knows about it. This was essentially the position endorsed by Republicans at an inaugural event designed to promote inclusion of gays in its ranks. This political equivalent of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, however crude and outdated for a country that has, for the most part, come to accept homosexuality, is actually a step in the right direction for the party that not so long ago refused to acknowledge the fact that gays actually do exist.
Unfortunately, it's a step that is far too small and is a step that most Democrats took long ago on their path towards making homosexuality a non-issue. It would seemingly follow, then, that gays would be overwhelmingly drawn to the party of the left while shunning the Republican party that is ages behind in encouraging equality for homosexuals. Yet statistics from November's odd election counter this logic, as Republicans did surprisingly well in winning gay votes. In fact, one-quarter of gays and lesbians voted for President Bush, and more than one-third voted for Republicans in congressional elections. These statistics are hard to explain given the thoughts and actions of the many important Republicans who aren't so keen on inviting gay Americans into their party.
Take, for example, the Republican convention this year in Philadelphia. When Arizona Representative Jim Kolbe, the only openly gay Republican in congress, addressed the cleverly engineered convention in an attempt to show the "new and inclusive" Republican party, he was greeted by the bowed heads of members of the Texas delegation, who protested Mr. Kolbe's giving the speech through prayer. Or,consider Mr. Bush's refusal to meet with gay constituents of his party until he was assured the Republican party nomination, his fervent opposition to gay marriages, and his rebuffing calls to eliminate an archaic law that makes it illegal to engage in homosexual acts in his state of Texas.
Finally, President Bush's selections for his cabinet are consistent with this unfortunate pattern of rejection of gays. John Ashcroft, the nominee for attorney general, has allegedly stated that he believes homosexuality to be a sin and opposed the appointment of a gay businessman who held views very similar to Ashcroft's to the position of ambassador to Luxembourg. Gale A. Norton, Mr. Bush's selection for interior secretary, tried to pass a constitutional amendment that would strike down a law protecting gays from discrimination. How do actions like these, performed by prominent Republicans, support the supposed "opening" of the Republican party to minorities, especially gays?
Given these examples of closed-mindedness, it is very surprising that Republicans did indeed manage to garner so many gay votes. Of course, it is possible that gay voters who chose Republicans are concerned with issues other than equal rights and treatment for gays. It would be nonsensical to say that because one is gay, he or she cannot vote for the party that is less open and accepting of gays. Indeed, besides the differences concerning how to approach the issue of sexual orientation, it is not unlikely that many gays agree with the Republican party platform in areas such as fiscal and international politics.
Groups like the Log Cabin Republicans are examples of gay Republicans who concur with the basic message of the Republican platform but hold different views when it comes to sexual orientation. However, the very fact that gay Republicans actually need a special group to belong to exposes the problem within the party itself. The Democratic party has no equivalent of the Log Cabin Republicans, nor does it need one, as it is generally much more accepting of gays than the Republican party. It is distressing that gay Republicans need such a group to be a part of the bigger group; it must be difficult to support a party that does not support you.
Alan Simpson, a former senator from Wyoming who spoke at the inaugural event, heralded the beginning of a chapter in his party's history, promising, "One fine day, sexual orientation will be a non-issue in the Republican party." Regrettably, that one fine day is too far down the road. To wait for the Republican party to catch up with the Democratic Party in the area of equality for gays and lesbians would be a mistake.
