Log Cabin Republicans#Criticism

Log Cabin Republicans was formed in 1977 in California as a rallying point for Republicans opposed to the Briggs Initiative, which attempted to ban homosexuals from teaching in public schools, and proposed legislation authorized the firing of those teachers who publicly "supported" homosexuality.{{cite web |url=http://spectator.org/articles/42050/reagan-and-milk |title=Reagan and Milk |work=The American Spectator |date=2009-02-26 |access-date=2014-10-22 |archive-date=2016-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405154652/http://spectator.org/articles/42050/reagan-and-milk |url-status=dead }}

While mounting his imminent presidential campaign, Ronald Reagan publicly expressed his opposition to the discriminatory policy. Reagan's condemnation of the bill—epitomized in a letter sent to a pro-Briggs group, excerpts of which were re-printed in the San Francisco Chronicle in 1978—played an influential role in the eventual defeat of the Briggs Initiative.{{cite web |url=http://www.reaganclubs.us/OurHero/ |title=Our Hero |publisher=The Ronald Reagan Assemblies of Florida |access-date=2013-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508163632/http://www.reaganclubs.us/OurHero/ |archive-date=2013-05-08 |url-status=dead }}

In the midst of this victory, gay conservatives in California created the Log Cabin Republicans. The group initially proposed to name themselves Lincoln Club, but found that name was already in use by the Lincoln Club of Orange County, another California Republican organization, so the name Log Cabin Republicans was chosen as an alternative title. This designation calls attention to the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln. The Log Cabin Republicans suggest that Lincoln founded the Republican Party on the philosophies of liberty and equality. These principles, Log Cabin argues, are consistent with their platform of an inclusive Republican Party.{{cite web |url=http://www.logcabin.org/about-us/our-history/ |title=Our History |publisher=Log Cabin Republicans |access-date=2013-07-30}}

The 1992 Log Cabin Republican convention was held in Spring, Texas, a Houston exurb. The main point of discussion was whether or not LCR would endorse the re-election of President George H. W. Bush. The group voted to deny that endorsement because Bush did not denounce anti-gay rhetoric at the 1992 Republican National Convention.{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/04/19/gays-long-loyal-to-gop-agonize-over-supporting-bush/ |title=Gays long loyal to GOP agonize over supporting Bush |date=April 19, 2004 |first=Lisa |last=Anderson |work=Chicago Tribune}}

In August 1995, the campaign of Republican presidential candidate, Bob Dole, returned the LCR's $1,000 campaign contribution.Barron, C. (2004). "A Big Question for Republicans", Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, Vol. 11. pp. 27–29. The campaign returned the contribution after the openly lesbian columnist, Deb Price, of the Detroit News, asked about it after she saw it on a public report from the Federal Election Commission. The campaign sent a written statement to Price saying that Dole was in "100% disagreement with the agenda of the Log Cabin Republicans."Tafel, pp. 167–168. The finance office of the campaign had solicited the contribution from LCR. At the event where it was given, Dole had personally spoken with LCR's then-executive director, Rich Tafel, about the group and about AIDS legislation it was promoting in the Senate. Weeks earlier, Dole agreed to co-sponsor the legislation after a meeting with Tafel at the campaign's headquarters.Tafel, pp. 164–166 It resulted in a front-page story in The New York Times, penned by Richard L. Berke, then-chief political reporter for the daily.

As reporters, including Berke, were seeking confirmation of the story before it broke, Dole's finance chairman, John Moran, asked Tafel not to speak to the press and that Tafel's "steadfastness and statesmanship at this moment will be handsomely appreciated in the long run by the campaign." Tafel refused.Tafel, p. 168.

Pundits accused Dole of being a "flip-flopper and a hypocrite."[https://archive.today/20130111075008/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F6061EFF3C5F0C728EDDA90994DD494D81&n=Top/Opinion/Editorials+and+Op-Ed/Op-Ed/Columnists/Frank+Rich Rich, Frank "The Log Cabin Lesson"]. The New York Times, October 21, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2007. Editorials ran in major newspapers, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Times of London, condemning Dole's action, joined by radio commentators Rush Limbaugh and Don Imus.Tafel, pp. 169–170.Woodward, p. 251. Under the pressure, Dole admitted during an October 1995 press briefing on Capitol Hill that he regretted the decision to return the check, and that his campaign was responsible for it without consulting him.Tafel, p. 171. "I think if they'd have consulted me, we wouldn't have done that, wouldn't have returned it," Dole said.Woodward, p. 284. Dole later told Washington Post editor and author Bob Woodward that the LCR episode was a "mistake" because the decision to return the check "gets into Bob Dole the person. It's not so much about Bob Dole the candidate. It's the person. Is he tolerant? Does he tolerate different views? Tolerate someone with a different lifestyle?" He added, "This is basic, this is what people ought to know about you. Are you going to just do this because it sounds good politically?"Woodward, p. 286.

LCR's leadership met with Dole's coalitions manager to discuss an endorsement after Dole's reversal.Tafel, p. 172. Among various items, Tafel demanded there be no gay bashing in the speeches from the podium of the 1996 Republican National Convention, nor any anti-homosexual signs on the convention floor. He also wanted to see a gay person address the convention and a public request from Dole's campaign for the LCR nod.Tafel, p. 173 On the closing night of the convention, Stephen Fong, then-president of the San Francisco chapter, spoke at the dais as part of a series of speeches from "mainstreet Americans," but was not publicly identified as gay.Tafel, p. 174. Nevertheless, his presence on the podium for the organization and for the gay and lesbian community "was something that would have been unimaginable four years earlier," Tafel later wrote. Fong was the first openly gay speaker at a Republican National Convention.{{cite web |last=Keen |first=Lisa |url=http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=71747 |title=Tension between gays and GOP shrouds convention |work=The Bay Area Reporter Online |date=2016-07-21 |access-date=2016-07-26}}

Two days later, Dole spokesperson Christina Martin told a reporter that the campaign "welcomed the endorsement of the Log Cabin Republicans." LCR voted to endorse Dole for President, and then-Republican National Committee chairman Haley Barbour approved the use of the RNC's press briefing room for Tafel, LCR's convention delegates and officers of its national board to announce their decision.

Later in the campaign, Tafel met with Dole's chief aide Sheila Burke, and the remaining demands LCR made for their endorsement were met. In a statement released by LCR, and confirmed to reporters by the campaign, Dole had pledged to maintain an executive order prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in the federal workforce and full funding for AIDS programs.

The group endorsed George W. Bush in 2000.

Due to his support of the Federal Marriage Amendment, the group declined to endorse the reelection of George W. Bush in 2004. The proposed amendment would have constitutionally defined marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/24/elec04.prez.bush.marriage/ |title=Bush calls for ban on same-sex marriages |date=February 25, 2004 |publisher=CNN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515103309/http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/24/elec04.prez.bush.marriage/ |archive-date=May 15, 2009 }} Bush's defense of the FMA led the group to vote 22 to 2 against an endorsement of his reelection.{{cite news |url=http://pridesource.com/article.html?article=9542 |title=Log Cabin nixes Bush, others endorse Kerry |date=2004-09-16 |work=PrideSource |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113081019/http://pridesource.com/article.html?article=9542 |archive-date=2013-11-13 }} The Palm Beach County chapter in Florida did endorse him, resulting in the revocation of their charter.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/03/26/AR2005032604814.html |title=Log Cabins Go Against the GOP Grain |first1=Mike |last1=Allen |first2=Dana |last2=Milbank |date=March 27, 2005 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

In September 2008, LCR voted to endorse the John McCain–Sarah Palin ticket in the 2008 presidential election. LCR President Patrick Sammon said the most important reason for their support was McCain's opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.{{cite news|last=Jacobson |first=Louis |title=Log Cabin Republicans Endorsing McCain Today |url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/-27894-1.html |newspaper=Roll Call |date=September 2, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203162122/http://www.rollcall.com/news/-27894-1.html |archive-date=February 3, 2013 }}

On 23 October 2012, LCR officially endorsed Mitt Romney despite Romney's commitment to a constitutional amendment barring gays and lesbians from marriage nationwide and his objection to the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on military service.{{cite web |title=With Endorsement, Log Cabin Republicans Declare 'We Are Americans First' |url=http://www.logcabin.org/pressrelease/with-endorsement-log-cabin-republicans-declare-we-are-americans-first/

|date=October 23, 2012 |publisher=Log Cabin Republicans |access-date=April 22, 2016}} In a public statement, LCR said it supported Romney due to the "gravity of the economic and national security issues currently at stake". Moreover, LCR expressed its hope that Romney would reconsider his opposition to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, but he did not.{{cite news|title=Log Cabin Republicans Endorse Mitt Romney|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/23/log-cabin-republicans-mitt-romney_n_2006348.html

|date=2012-10-23|publisher=Huffington Post|access-date=July 30, 2013}}

On October 22, 2016, the board members of LCR voted not to endorse the Republican nominee for president, Donald Trump.{{Citation| last = Wheaton| first = Sarah | title = Log Cabin Republicans board votes against endorsing Trump| newspaper = Politico| date = October 22, 2016 | url = http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/donald-trump-log-cabin-republicans-230178 | access-date = 2016-10-22}} In defiance, the LCR statewide chapters of Colorado, Georgia, and Texas, along with the LCR countywide chapter of Orange County, California and the LCR city chapters of Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; and Cleveland, Ohio; voted to endorse Donald Trump.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/breaking-national-group-local-log-cabin-chapters-endorse-trump-n676826|title=Breaking with national group, local Log Cabin chapters endorse Trump|website=NBC News|date=2 November 2016 }}

Nationwide, exit polls estimated that Trump received the lowest percentage of the LGBT vote by any Republican presidential candidate since the metric was first included in presidential polls in 1992.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/card/nbc-news-exit-poll-trump-fails-peel-lgbt-voters-away-n680901|title=NBC News Exit Poll: Trump Fails to Peel LGBT Voters Away From Democratic Party|first=NBC News Exit Poll Desk1013d ago / 4:03 AM|last=UTC|website=NBC News}} Trump received only 14% of the LGBT vote, a significant decline from Mitt Romney who received 22% in 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2016/11/14/lgbt-voters-rejected-trump-lopsided-margin/|title=LGBT voters rejected Trump by lopsided margin|date=November 14, 2016}} On November 9, 2016, the national LCR congratulated Donald Trump on his victory.{{cite web|url=http://southfloridagaynews.com/Politics/gay-republicans-celebrate-trump-victory.html|title=Gay Republicans Celebrate Trump Victory|first=John|last=McDonald}}

In November 2018, Jerri Ann Henry became the first woman to serve as Log Cabin executive director. A month later, she said in a television interview that, while she perceived Trump as having been "vocally supportive" of LGBT people compared to other Republican presidents and presidential candidates, there had nevertheless been "a lot of ups and downs in the last two years with some of the administration's actions."{{cite news|last1=Manchester|first1=Julia|date=7 December 2018|title=There are 'ups and downs' in Trump's relationship with LGBT community, says leader of gay GOP group|work=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/420222-there-are-ups-and-downs-in-trumps-relationship-with-lgbt-community-says-leader|access-date=9 December 2018}}

On August 16, 2019, more than a year prior to the election, the Log Cabins endorsed Trump. Chair Robert Kabel and vice chair Jill Homan gave their reasons for the endorsement in a Washington Post op-ed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-met-his-commitments-to-lgbtq-americans-he-has-our-endorsement/2019/08/15/fb9b741c-bf96-11e9-a5c6-1e74f7ec4a93_story.html|title=Trump met his commitments to LGBTQ Americans. He has our endorsement.|department=Opinions|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=15 August 2019|first1=Robert|last1=Kabel|first2=Jill|last2=Homan|access-date=2020-04-30}} Three women resigned in protest: board member Jennifer Horn (who earlier in the year had served as campaign manager for Trump's 2020 primary challenger Bill Weld),{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/08/20/her-gop-group-endorsed-trump-so-she-resigned-she-wouldnt-able-look-her-children-eye/|title=Her GOP group endorsed Trump, so she resigned. She wouldn't be able to 'look her children in the eye.'|last=Krakow|first=Morgan|date=20 August 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2019-08-20|department=Politics}} Log Cabin's first woman board member Sarah Longwell,{{cite news |last1=Rubin |first1=Jennifer |title=Not all Republicans have lost their souls |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/08/22/not-all-republicans-have-lost-their-souls/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=22 August 2019 |access-date=2020-04-30 |department=Opinions}} and executive director Jerri Ann Henry.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/08/27/exclusive-log-cabin-executive-director-resigns-over-trump-endorsement/|title=Exclusive: Log Cabin executive director resigns over Trump endorsement |newspaper=The Washington Blade |date=27 August 2019 |access-date=2019-08-28|first=Chris|last=Johnson}}

NBC exit polls found that 27% of LGBT voters chose Trump.{{Cite news |last=Rascius |first=Brendan |date=November 7, 2024 |title=How did LGBT Americans vote in election? Exit poll finds significant shift from 2020 |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article295190254.html |access-date=February 6, 2025 |work=Miami Herald}}

In April 2024, Melania Trump was the guest of honor at a Log Cabin Republicans fundraiser in Mar-a-Lago, raising over $1 million according to organizers. This launched the Log Cabin "Road to Victory" program to reach voters in swing states and marked a rare appearance by Melania Trump at a political event.{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/melania-trump-announces-push-woo-gay-conservatives-fundraiser/story?id=109477174 |work=ABC News |date=April 22, 2024 |title=Melania Trump announces push to woo gay Conservatives at a fundraiser |last1=Soo |first1=Rin Kim |first2=Lalee |last2=Ibssa |access-date=June 29, 2024}} In July, she hosted a second LCR fundraiser at Trump Tower, raising $1.4 million.{{cite web |last1=Craighead |first1=Olivia |title=Melania Reappears for Conservative LGBTQ+ Fundraiser |url=https://www.thecut.com/article/melania-trump-campaign-fundraiser-log-cabin-republicans.html |website=The Cut |date=10 July 2024 |access-date=16 July 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Nicholls |first1=Flynn |title=Melania Trump Holds 'Spectacular' GOP Fundraiser at Her NYC Penthouse |url=https://www.newsweek.com/melania-trump-fundraiser-republicans-new-york-city-penthouse-log-cabin-gop-1922649 |website=Newsweek |date=9 July 2024 |access-date=16 July 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Ogles |first=Jacob |date=August 16, 2024 |title=Melania Trump cashed six-figure check to speak to gay Republicans at Mar-a-Lago |url=https://www.advocate.com/politics/melania-trump-lcr-speaking-gig |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Advocate |language=en}} For the April appearance, Trump was paid $237,500 but the Log Cabin Republicans denied that they made the payment. An anonymous source told CNN that former first Trump Administration official Ric Grenell made the payment. As of September 2024, it was not known if Trump was paid for the July appearance.{{cite news| url= https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/23/politics/melania-trump-speaking-engagements/index.html |title=Melania Trump was paid for a rare appearance at a political event. It's not clear who cut the unusual six-figure check|date=September 23, 2024|first1=Pamela |last1=Brown| authorlink1= Pamela Brown (journalist)| first2=Jeremy |last2=Herb | first3=Shoshana |last3= Dubnow|publisher= CNN}}

A fundraising event organized by Log Cabin Republicans was held on 22 October 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina—a state considered to be one of the battleground states in the 2024 election.{{cite news |last1=Davis Jr. |first1=Elliott |date=November 5, 2024 |title=The 2024 Swing States: Why North Carolina Could Sway the Presidential Election |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/elections/articles/the-2024-swing-states-north-carolina-could-sway-the-2024-election |work=U.S. News & World Report}} The event was promoted as supporting the LGBT community within the Trump campaign. However, reports following the event indicated that there were no rainbow flags present, a symbol of the LGBT community that is normally prominent in events in support of it.{{cite news |last1=Lavietes |first1=Matt |title=No 'victim mentality' or rainbow flags: Gay Republicans rally for Trump |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/gay-republicans-rally-for-trump-no-victims-no-rainbow-flags-rcna176940 |work=NBC News |date=24 October 2024 |language=en}} Speakers at the event rejected calls for equality as "victim mentality", and instead insisted that the LGBT community has already reached equality.{{cite news |last1=Wiggins |first1=Christopher |title=MAGA gays at Trump event claim LGBTQ+ equality already exists |url=https://www.advocate.com/election/maga-gays-trump-unity-event |work=www.advocate.com |date=25 October 2024 |language=en}} Headliners at the event included Richard Grenell, who was the first openly gay person to serve in the Cabinet, as well as Lara Trump.{{cite news |last1=Golian |first1=Jonathan |title=Charlotte Log Cabin and 'Trump Unity Event' flops |url=https://qnotescarolinas.com/charlotte-log-cabin-and-trump-unity-event-flops/ |work=QnotesCarolinas.com |date=29 October 2024}}

NBC exit polls found that 13% of LGBT voters chose Trump.

{{Main|Log Cabin Republicans v. United States}}

A lawsuit filed by LCR in federal court challenging the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy, which excluded homosexuals from openly serving in the U.S. military, went to trial on July 13, 2010, presided by Judge Virginia Phillips. LCR argued that the policy violates the rights of homosexual military members to free speech, due process and open association.{{cite news|last=Watson|first=Julie|title=Log Cabin Republicans Challenge DADT|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/13/log-cabin-republicans-cha_n_644051.html|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=July 13, 2010}} The government argued that DADT was necessary to advance a legitimate governmental interest.Law.com: [https://www.law.com/almID/1202463512493/ Constitutional Challenge to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Reaches Trial] LCR introduced several admissions by President Barack Obama, including that DADT "doesn't contribute to our national security," "weakens our national security," and that reversing DADT is "essential for our national security". Rather than address plaintiff's claims or bring evidence to support their own claims of national interest, the government relied exclusively on the policy's 1993 legislative history.{{cite web|last=Woods |first=Daniel |title=Closing arguments, Log Cabin Republicans v. United States of America |publisher=Log Cabin Republicans |date=2010-07-23 |url=http://online.logcabin.org/closing-argument-updated.pdf |access-date=2010-07-24 }}{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

On September 9, 2010, Phillips ruled in favor of plaintiffs, finding that DADT violates the First and Fifth Amendments to the United States Constitution.{{cite news |title=Judge: Military's ban on gays is unconstitutional |agency=Associated Press |date=2010-09-10 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2010-09-09-dont-ask-dont-tell_N.htm|access-date=2010-09-10}}{{Cite news |title=Judge declares U.S. military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy openly banning gay service members unconstitutional |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=2010-09-09|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/09/federal-judge-declares-us-military-ban-on-openly-gay-service-members-unconstitutional-.html |access-date=2010-09-10}}

On September 29, 2011, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated the district court's decision, ruling that the legislative repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" by President Barack Obama and the outgoing Democratic congressional majority in December 2010 rendered the case moot. The dismissal left the lower court ruling without value as precedent.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-gays-military-idUSTRE78S5NE20110929?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews |title=U.S. court vacates ruling on gays in military |publisher=Reuters |first=Dan |last=Levine |date=September 29, 2011 |access-date=October 24, 2011 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924155601/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/29/us-usa-gays-military-idUSTRE78S5NE20110929?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews |url-status=live }}

LCR acts under the statement: "We are loyal Republicans. We believe in limited government, strong national defense, free markets, low taxes, personal responsibility, and individual liberty. Log Cabin Republicans represents an important part of the American family—taxpaying, hard working people who proudly believe in this nation's greatness. We also believe all Americans have the right to liberty and equality. We believe equality for LGBT Americans is in the finest tradition of the Republican Party. We educate our Party about why inclusion wins. Opposing gay and lesbian equality is inconsistent with the GOP's core principles of smaller government and personal freedom."{{cite web |url=http://www.logcabin.org/about-us/ |title=Log Cabin Republicans: What We Believe |publisher=Log Cabin Republicans |access-date=2013-06-23 |archive-date=2021-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206172914/https://logcabin.org/about-us/ |url-status=dead }}

On social issues, LCR either dissents from social conservatism or is neutral. On matters relating to gay and lesbian rights, LCR advocates for same-sex marriage and tax equity for domestic partner benefits.{{cite web|url=http://www.logcabin.org/issues/lgbt-legislation/ |title=LGBT Legislation |publisher=Log Cabin Republicans |access-date=2013-06-23}} The LCR website also includes an "Equality Map" giving information on state laws in areas from employment discrimination and relationship recognition to hate crimes protections and anti-bullying laws.{{cite web|url=http://www.logcabin.org/issues/equality-map/ |title=Equality Map |publisher=Log Cabin Republicans |access-date=2013-06-23}}

LCR takes no official position on abortion.{{cite web |url=http://www.plagal.org/media/8-29-99.html |title=LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS ADOPT NEUTRAL POSITION ON ABORTION |publisher=THE PRO-LIFE ALLIANCE OF GAYS AND LESBIANS |date=August 27, 1999 |access-date=2013-06-23 |archive-date=2011-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521171846/http://plagal.org/media/8-29-99.html |url-status=dead }}

On the issue of national defense: "Log Cabin Republicans believe in a confident foreign policy and a strong national defense. As the world's sole military superpower, it is vital that the United States remain ready and able to shoulder its responsibilities in the global arena while standing as a beacon of freedom. Log Cabin Republicans call attention to the cruel and abusive treatment of gays and lesbians worldwide, particularly as it coincides with authoritarian regimes renowned for supporting terrorism and disregarding other basic human rights."{{cite web |url=http://www.logcabin.org/issues/national-defense/ |title=National Defense |publisher=Log Cabin Republicans |access-date=2013-06-23 |archive-date=2021-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225034954/http://logcabin.org/issues/national-defense/ |url-status=dead }}

Nationally, LCR argues that transgender people, alongside gay, lesbian, and bisexual people, should have the right to adopt{{Cite web |title=Adoption |url=https://logcabin.org/adoption/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Log Cabin Republicans |language=en-US}} and to be free of workplace and housing discrimination.{{Cite web |title=Fairness For All |url=https://logcabin.org/fairness-for-all/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Log Cabin Republicans |language=en-US}} They support decriminalization of being transgender worldwide.{{Cite web |title=Decriminalization |url=https://logcabin.org/decriminalization/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Log Cabin Republicans |language=en-US}} In 2017, the LCR asked Donald Trump to reinstate Obama-era protections for transgender students, including freedoms to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.{{Cite web |last=Devaney |first=Tim |date=2017-03-03 |title=Gay GOP group urges Trump to reinstate transgender protections |url=https://thehill.com/regulation/322173-gay-republicans-urge-trump-to-reinstate-transgender-bathroom-protections/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}

However, in the early 2020s, some local chapters took positions against transgender rights. The New Hampshire{{Cite web |last=Giardina |first=Henry |date=2023-05-16 |title=Anti-Trans Gays are Turning New Hampshire Into the Next Transphobic Battleground |url=https://www.intomore.com/impact/politics/anti-trans-gays-are-turning-new-hampshire-into-the-next-anti-trans-battleground/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=INTO |language=en-US}} and Texas{{Cite web |date=2022-04-19 |title=Log Cabin Republicans of Texas support blocking certain medical treatments for transgender youth |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2022/04/19/texas-lgbtq-republicans-support-blocking-certain-medical-treatments-for-transgender-youth/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Dallas News |language=en}} chapters support laws that "out" transgender youth to their families and refuse gender-affirming care to youth. In 2022, members of the San Antonio chapter joined an armed protest of a Christmas-themed drag show at the Aztec Theatre (though LCR's president, Charles Moran, said he had no knowledge of the chapter's involvement).{{Cite web |last=Kane |first=Christopher |date=2022-12-15 |title=Log Cabin Republicans president denies knowledge of chapter's involvement in drag event protest - Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2022/12/15/log-cabin-republicans-president-denies-knowledge-of-chapters-involvement-in-drag-event-protest/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=www.washingtonblade.com |language=en-US}} Moran, when Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill was being drafted, advised the sponsor against requiring teachers to inform parents that their children may be gay or transgender. However, he otherwise agreed with the DeSantis administration's actions to restrict children's access to information about LGBT people.{{Cite web |last=Contorno |first=Steve |date=2022-03-09 |title=LGBTQ Floridians once hoped DeSantis could be an ally. Not anymore {{!}} |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/09/politics/ron-desantis-lgbtq-community/index.html |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=CNN Politics |language=en |quote=Moran said he worked with the bill sponsor to remove language that would have forced teachers to out gay and transgender students to their parents. Log Cabin Republicans do not oppose the bill in its current form.}}

In 2023, the Virginia chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans supported Governor Glenn Youngkin's LGBTQ+ policies, with LCR president Charles Moran endorsing "common-sense protections for biological women" and alleging that a "radical gender theory" is being taught in schools and must be opposed.{{cite news |author= |date=June 22, 2023 |title=Youngkin hosts Pride month reception at governor's mansion |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2023/06/22/youngkin-hosts-pride-month-reception-at-governors-mansion/ |url-status=live |work=Washington Blade |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622210413/https://www.washingtonblade.com/2023/06/22/youngkin-hosts-pride-month-reception-at-governors-mansion/ |archive-date=June 22, 2023 |access-date=July 22, 2023}} This move was criticized by local LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Virginia.

When the Human Rights Campaign issued a state of emergency for the LGBT community, Moran condemned the HRC, citing Biden's signing of a law supporting same-sex marriage as an argument for why LGBT people were not currently in danger.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-08 |title=Biden marks Pride Month with new initiatives to help and protect LGBTQ+ communities |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/biden-marks-pride-month-with-new-initiatives-to-help-and-protect-lgbtq-communities |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us}} In this statement, Moran spoke derisively of trans liberation, stating that, "the HRC is destructively redefining support for the LGBT community around trans surgeries for minors, biological men competing in women's sports, and sex and gender identity lessons in kindergarten."{{Cite web |last=Riley |first=John |date=2023-06-13 |title=HRC Explains Its LGBTQ State of Emergency Declaration |url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2023/06/hrc-explains-its-lgbtq-state-of-emergency-declaration/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Metro Weekly |language=en-US}}

According to historian, Neil J. Young, most LGBT Republicans do not identify as "LGBTQ", but simply as lesbian, gay or bisexual as they believe that "LGBTQ has become a political identity rather than a sexual identity". As such, Log Cabin Republicans does not use the "Q" when calling themselves an "LGBT Republican organization", there is also reportedly a large amount of infighting going on within the organization about whether they should also drop the "T".{{Cite web |last=Paz |first=Christian |date=2024-06-24 |title=What the rise of queer Republicans tells us about America |url=https://www.vox.com/politics/356033/gay-republican-lgbtq-pride-month-history-voter-election-2024 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=Vox Media |language=en-US}}

Since 1977, LCR has expanded across the United States and has 35 chapters, representing 26 states and the District of Columbia:{{cite web |url= http://www.logcabin.org/become-a-member/chapters/ |title=Join a Chapter |work=logcabin.org |access-date=June 23, 2013}}

{{colbegin|colwidth=22em|gap=1em}}

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Coachella Valley
• Los Angeles
• Marin County
• Orange County
• Sacramento
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Sequoias
• Silicon Valley
• UCB / Alameda County
• Ventura County
• Colorado
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Broward
• Miami
• Northeast / Jacksonville
• Tampa Bay
• Central / Orlando
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Hudson Valley
• New York City
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Cleveland
• Northeast Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Austin
• Dallas
• Houston
• San Antonio
• Fort Worth
• Utah (dissolved in 2023{{cite news|url=https://www.qsaltlake.com/news/2023/11/20/national-log-cabin-republicans-dissolves-utah-chapter/|title=National Log Cabin Republicans dissolves Utah Chapter|date=November 20, 2023|publisher=QSaltLake}})
• Virginia
• Northern Virginia
• Richmond
• Washington
• Wisconsin (dissolved as of March 2022)

{{colend}}

LCR has been criticized for failing to promote Republican principles. Focusing on "the battle for gay and lesbian civil rights" at its March–April 2005 convention and Liberty Education Forum National Symposium, panel topics included "Corporate Diversity"; "Family Fairness"; and "Is Sexual Orientation a Choice?" This caused two Washington Post opinion columnists to say that "the Log Cabin Republicans are looking less and less Republican." As of 2022, the Texas GOP Convention has refused to allow the LCR to have a booth at the convention for at least twenty years.{{Cite web |last=Goldenstein |first=Taylor |date=2020-02-01 |title=Conservative LGBT group denied a spot at Texas GOP convention |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Conservative-LGBT-group-denied-a-spot-at-Texas-15023004.php |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US}} The state party's position has been criticized by Donald Trump Jr{{Cite web |last=Stanton |first=Andrew |date=18 June 2022 |title=Texas GOP Convention Sparks Intraparty Feud on Treatment of Gay Republicans |url=https://www.newsweek.com/texas-gop-convention-sparks-intraparty-feud-treatment-gay-republicans-1717159 |access-date= |website=Newsweek |language=en |quote=The Texas GOP should focus its energy on fighting back against the radical democrats and weak RINOs currently trying to legislate our 2nd Amendment rights away, instead of canceling a group of gay conservatives who are standing in the breach with us," the former president's son wrote in a statement to Breitbart News}} and by Richard Grenell.{{Cite web |last=Kane |first=Christopher |date=2023-08-29 |title=Richard Grenell urges Texas GOP lift ban on Log Cabin group |url=https://www.losangelesblade.com/2023/08/29/richard-grenell-urges-texas-gop-lift-ban-on-log-cabin-group/ |access-date=2023-09-10 |work=Los Angeles Blade |language=en-US}}

In 2012, the Log Cabin Republicans were criticized by advocates of gay rights and marriage equality for endorsing Republican candidates who advocated new limitations on the legal rights of gay Americans as well as the retention of current discriminatory laws and policies.{{cite news|url = http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2012/10/21/romney-still-supports-federal-marriage-amendment|title = Romney Still Supports Federal Marriage Amendment|author = Michelle Garcia|date = October 21, 2012|newspaper = The Advocate|access-date = February 28, 2018}}

Some in the LGBT community have expressed dissatisfaction with LCR, viewing it as a centrist organization that does not represent LGBT economic conservatives. In 2009, two former LCR members, Christopher R. Barron and Jimmy LaSalvia, formed GOProud to represent LGBT economic conservatives and libertarians;{{cite news|url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123966833747115385|newspaper = The Wall Street Journal|title = Gay, Proud and Conservative|first = William|last = McGurn|date = April 14, 2009|access-date = February 28, 2018}} it was dissolved in 2014.{{cite news|first = Tim|last = Mak|url = http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/06/inside-the-implosion-of-goproud-the-right-s-most-notorious-pro-gay-group.html|title = Inside the Implosion of GOProud, the Right's Most Notorious Pro-Gay Group|newspaper = The Daily Beast|date = June 6, 2014|access-date = February 28, 2018}}{{cite news|url = http://bilerico.lgbtqnation.com/2014/06/goproud_denies_then_admits_it_is_closing_down.php|first = Bil|last = Browning|title = GOProud Denies, Then Admits It Is Closing Down|publisher = The Bilerico Project|date = June 2, 2014|access-date = February 28, 2018}}{{cite news|first = David|last = Badash|newspaper = The New Civil Rights Movement|url = http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/gay-tea-party-group-goproud-definitely-shutting-down-director-admits-he-lied/news/2014/06/02/88447|title = Gay Tea Party Group GOProud Definitely Shutting Down – Director Admits He Lied|publisher = JM Media Holdings|date = June 2, 2014|access-date = February 28, 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160909062842/http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/gay-tea-party-group-goproud-definitely-shutting-down-director-admits-he-lied/news/2014/06/02/88447|archive-date = 2016-09-09|url-status = dead}}

LCR president Greg Angelo described the "preservation of LGBT rights and support for the LGBT community" as hallmarks of Donald Trump's 2016 Presidential campaign, and asserted that support would continue during his presidency.{{cite web|date = February 22, 2017|url = https://qz.com/915794/why-a-prominent-lgbt-rights-group-sees-hope-and-tremendous-opportunity-in-donald-trump/|title = Why a prominent LGBT rights group sees hope and "tremendous opportunity" in Donald Trump|first1 = Max|last1 = de Haldevang|first2 = Heather|last2 = Timmons|access-date = February 28, 2018|newspaper = Quartz}} On that same day as these comments were made, The New York Times reported that the Trump administration had rescinded Obama-era guidance on transgender students' rights.{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/22/us/politics/devos-sessions-transgender-students-rights.html|title = Trump Rescinds Rules on Bathrooms for Transgender Students|first1 = Jeremy W.|last1 = Peters|first2 = Jo|last2 = Becker|first3 = Julie Hirschfeld|last3 = Davis|date = February 22, 2017|newspaper = The New York Times|access-date = February 28, 2018}} David Badash, editor-in-chief and founder of the New Civil Rights Movement has criticized LCR for not opposing this action.{{cite news|title = Log Cabin Republicans Have Been Cheerleaders for Trump but on His Revoking Transgender Guidance, Crickets|first = David|last = Badash|newspaper = The New Civil Rights Movement|url = http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/log_cabin_republicans_have_been_cheerleaders_for_trump_but_on_his_revoking_transgender_guidance_crickets|date = February 23, 2018|access-date = February 28, 2018|publisher = JM Media Holdings}} In 2017, Angelo described Trump as "the most pro-LGBT Republican president in history." In a February 2018 interview, he said that Trump recognizes marriage equality as the "settled law of the land, sent a letter of congratulations and commemoration [on Log Cabin's 40th anniversary], and has people in his Cabinet who support marriage equality." Angelo therefore concluded that "Trump is even better for the LGBTQ community than former President Barack Obama".{{cite news|title = Trump is even better for the LGBTQ community than former President Barack Obama|newspaper = The Huffington Post|date = February 28, 2018|access-date = February 28, 2018|author-link = Michelangelo Signorile|first = Michelangelo|last = Signorile|url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/log-cabin-republicans-donald-trump-lgbtq-rights_us_5a93901ae4b0ee6416a499df}}

LCR's decision to include straight conservative Isabella Riley Moody as an "outspoken ambassador" for the group was questioned due to Moody's homophobic rhetoric.{{cite news |last=Mantyla |first=Kyle |date=March 8, 2023 |title=Isabella Riley Moody, Ambassador for the Log Cabin Republicans, Says The Log Cabin Republicans Make Her 'Want to Vomit' |website=Right Wing Watch |url=https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/isabella-riley-moody-ambassador-for-the-log-cabin-republicans-says-the-log-cabin-republicans-make-her-want-to-vomit/ |access-date=April 4, 2023}} After stating in an interview that the LCR's statement of principles "really just grosses me out and makes me want to vomit" and posting on Twitter that "being ‘gay and proud’ is itself GROOMING," her name was removed from the group's website.{{Cite web |last=Hudson |first=David |date=2023-03-10 |title=Log Cabin Republicans dump new ambassador after she says gays "gross" her out |url=https://www.queerty.com/log-cabin-republicans-dump-new-ambassador-after-she-says-gays-gross-her-out-20230310 |access-date=2023-08-27 |website=Queerty}}

{{Portal|LGBTQ|Conservatism}}

• DeploraBall
• Deplorable Pride
• Gay Conservatives
• Gay Republicans
• Gays for Trump
• GOProud
• LGBT+ Conservatives, a similar organization affiliated with the British Conservative Party
• LGBTory, a similar organization affiliated with the Conservative Party of Canada
• LGBTQ conservatism in the United States

Notes

{{reflist|30em}}

Bibliography

• Tafel, Richard (1999) Party Crasher, New York: Simon & Schuster. {{ISBN|0-684-83764-1}}
• Woodward, Bob (1996) The Choice, New York: Simon & Schuster. {{ISBN|0-684-81308-4}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{ProPublicaNonprofitExplorer|521811081}}

{{Republican Party}}

{{Portal bar|Conservatism|LGBTQ|Politics|United States}}

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Category:1977 establishments in Washington, D.C.

Category:Factions in the Republican Party (United States)

Category:LGBTQ affiliate organizations of political parties

Category:LGBTQ conservatism in the United States

Category:LGBTQ political advocacy groups in the United States

Category:LGBTQ political advocacy groups in Washington, D.C.

Category:Political organizations established in 1977

Category:Republican Party (United States) organizations