As the only openly gay Republican sets to retire from Congress, at the Log Cabin Republicans, we are losing the organization’s second executive director, Patrick Guerrero.
Log Cabin Republicans President Patrick Guerriero will assume new responsibilities as the first-ever Executive Director of the Gill Action Fund. By the time Guerriero leaves Log Cabin in September, he will have traveled over 750,000 miles, visiting over 300 cities and towns in all 50 states. “It has been a humbling experience leading Log Cabin Republicans during the past four years,” said Guerriero. “I’m proud of what thousands of courageous Log Cabin members across America have accomplished as we work to build an inclusive Republican Party and a better America.”
”The entire Log Cabin Republican family is profoundly grateful for Patrick Guerriero’s inspired leadership,” said Log Cabin Chairman Tim Schoeffler. “Patrick led the organization through unprecedented growth, including dozens of new chapters, thousands of new members, and a 400% increase in our annual budget. We will miss him greatly, but we wish him the best of luck and we look forward to working with him as Executive Director of Gill Action.”
Guerrero’s departure is mitigated by the great staff he has brought on board–including a strong presence on the West Coast with last year’s opening of an office in Sacramento.
In remarks to this evening’s meeting of the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County, author Reverend James Lee Peterson asked for people to stand up and tell him if he was wrong. When Peterson suggested that in order to encourage more black Americans to enter into marriages, the Government must pass a constitutional amendment redefining it as between only one man and one woman, L.A. Log Cabin President Len Lanzi did just that.
Lanzi asked Peterson why, if he believes, that marriage creates stability in society and is good for children, that a whole group of Americans should be denied the right to marry. Not having an answer, the Reverend quoted the Bible. A former Log Cabin member who sits on the Central Committee then stood up and asked if the Reverend supported slavery, since, after all, it is in the Bible, too. The ruckus prompted Chairman Linda Boyd to have to give an empassioned speech about tolerance of all Republicans–gay straight an otherwise.
While those members of Log Cabin who run for positions and are elected to serve on their County Central Committees may not be changing policies, they are standing up to bigotry, changing hearts and minds and putting a face on gay Americans which the GOP may otherwise not see. For that, we should commend all of them.
Let’s Get This Straight!
I was going to address another topic, but I decided to move it ahead one month so that I may share with you an encounter that happened to me last week. I was attending an American Cinematheque screening of “South Pacific” at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. As many of us know, that film is a classic musical… a seemingly lost genre in Hollywood today… with a definitive subplot that illustrates the idiosyncrasies of not only racial prejudice, but intolerance in general. “You’ve Got to Be Taught,” as one of musical’s songs declare, to hate and despise those who are different from ourselves. But we also have to be taught how to accept others as they are. It’s not surprising to learn, however, that many people have pre-conceived notions and apprehensions about those who are different from themselves… especially when it comes to Gays and Republicans! Just as I was about to step into the forecourt of the theatre, I was approached by two women in their mid-to-late thirties; one of whom was carrying a pad and pencil, and I was asked if I would like to take part in a poll that they were taking. After a few brief introductions, it became evident that the women were representing one of the fringe preacher groups that often descend upon the Hollywood & Highland area to issue judgment on passersby. I was asked if I would mind answering a few questions for them. As I usually arrive early to events that I attend, I did have the time to do so and besides… this time I just couldn’t resist the temptation to teach them a thing or two! (more…)