College Republicans for Equality
This OpEd below from the College Republicans is an example of how Log Cabin Republicans is winning the battle for the hearts and minds of the GOP.
Principles of equality must be restored to GOP
By: Vinny Napolitano
Posted: 2/20/08
President George W. Bush made one particular issue a cornerstone of his campaign in 2004: the promise that he would propose a Constitutional Amendment to ban homosexual marriage. Thus, a new issue emerged, and all Republicans readily rallied around the president’s suggestion, adding it to the list of things they were fighting for in the 2004 elections - well, almost all Republicans.The Log Cabin Republicans could not join the president’s reelection bid. They supported his tax cuts, his War on Terror and his view on abortion. They liked almost everything about him, but they could not endorse him. Why? Because the Log Cabin Republicans are a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Republican organization, and they could not support a president who opposed any and all gay rights movements. Many find the phrase “gay Republican” to be an oxymoron. But to individuals like Syracuse University alumnus Patrick Sammon, the current president of the Log Cabin Republicans, it makes perfect sense.
“It’s good news that Sen. McCain is on track to win the [Republican] nomination, because he believes in a big tent Republican Party,” Sammon recently stated.
The Log Cabin Republicans have every reason to celebrate; McCain is probably the most LGBT- friendly Republican candidate they could ask for besides Rudy Giuliani. For the first time, Republicans with pro-gay rights stances have been the front-runners - a complete reversal from the Bush positions of 2004.
Like many Republicans, McCain does not support gay marriage, but he does support civil unions. He also supports equal protection under the law for members of the LGBT community and he opposes amending the Constitution to ban gay marriage, supporting the right of states to decide. This seems fair and most in line with the American public. According to a recent USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll, 54 percent of Americans currently support civil unions, in spite of 57 percent opposing gay marriage. Support of civil unions is highest among Americans under the age of 30, showing clearly that the Republicans must adapt with the times, otherwise, an entire generation may find yet another reason to turn to the Democrats.
Marriage should be up to individual churches and religions, with the government only (italicized) being permitted to issue civil unions that are exactly the same for straight couples and for gay couples. Moreover, adoption of children to a loving home should also be blind to sexual orientation and should be the aim of any Republican who is pro-life. Adoption by a loving gay couple who is capable of raising a child is far more preferable to the abortion of a child or the placing of a child into an orphanage.
These principles of LGBT equality, which have been espoused by Sen. McCain, former Mayor Giuliani and other prominent Republicans, such as Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida and Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, should become mainstream within the Republican Party. Why? Because if we fail to do so, we will no longer be the Party that fought for equality. As the party that ended slavery, the party that pushed for women’s suffrage and the party that helped pass civil rights legislation, this should be a natural choice for Republicans to make. In the name of what is right, they will need to embrace the concept of eliminating all government-issued “marriage,” push to eliminate Bill Clinton’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and support across the board civil union status for any two consenting adults. As Republicans, we have always believed it is the people who know what is best for themselves, not the government. If we do not remember this, then we deserve to fail.
Vinny Napolitano is a political science, American history and political philosophy major. His columns appear every Wednesday. He is the executive director of the College Republicans at Syracuse. He can be reached at vsnapoli@syr.edu.