Black gay group endorses Bush
PlanetOut Network | Wednesday, September 22, 2004 | Tom Musbach
On Wednesday a fledgling group of black, gay Republicans endorsed George W. Bush for a second term as president, countering the stand taken by the nation's largest gay and lesbian GOP organization.
The Abe Lincoln Black Republican Caucus (ALBRC), which was founded in 2002 to address the needs of young, black, gay Republicans in Dallas, said the endorsement was fueled by the Log Cabin Republicans' refusal to endorse Bush.
"We think that the 'Republican Tent' is inclusive and there is room for differences, but one does not pick up their marbles and go home if there are a few points of disagreement," ALBRC spokesman Anthony Falls said in a prepared statement. "The ALBRC does not support marriage for gays, yet we do support and call for recognition of domestic partnerships."
Jasmyne Cannick, board member for the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), which advocates for marriage equality, dismissed the endorsement as a "ploy to get attention." She noted that the ALBRC has never had a national presence or influence.
The group has 75 members in Dallas, according to Falls.
Chris Barron, political director of the Log Cabin Republicans, said his group remains firm in its decision not to endorse Bush.
"I do not know what the mission of the Abe Lincoln club is, but I do know that Log Cabin's decision furthers our mission, which is to build equality for gays and lesbians in the Republican Party," Barron told the PlanetOut Network. "There are times when integrity requires that a commitment to basic fairness not be sacrificed in the name of partisan politics."
The ALBRC was co-founded by Don Sneed, who was appointed by Bush to the Presidential Advisory on HIV/AIDS. Sneed, who remains a mentor to the fledgling Dallas political group, is also the executive director of Renaissance III, a local AIDS prevention group tripped up by funding controversies.
Last month Renaissance III was ordered to pay back $112,867 to the federal government because of questionable expenses, according to the Dallas Morning News. The organization also fell into trouble with the Texas Department of Health and had to repay $76,958 in state grants. At one point Sneed blamed the problems on the "white gay establishment," according to the paper.
PlanetOut Network | Wednesday, September 22, 2004 | Tom Musbach
On Wednesday a fledgling group of black, gay Republicans endorsed George W. Bush for a second term as president, countering the stand taken by the nation's largest gay and lesbian GOP organization.
The Abe Lincoln Black Republican Caucus (ALBRC), which was founded in 2002 to address the needs of young, black, gay Republicans in Dallas, said the endorsement was fueled by the Log Cabin Republicans' refusal to endorse Bush.
"We think that the 'Republican Tent' is inclusive and there is room for differences, but one does not pick up their marbles and go home if there are a few points of disagreement," ALBRC spokesman Anthony Falls said in a prepared statement. "The ALBRC does not support marriage for gays, yet we do support and call for recognition of domestic partnerships."
Jasmyne Cannick, board member for the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), which advocates for marriage equality, dismissed the endorsement as a "ploy to get attention." She noted that the ALBRC has never had a national presence or influence.
The group has 75 members in Dallas, according to Falls.
Chris Barron, political director of the Log Cabin Republicans, said his group remains firm in its decision not to endorse Bush.
"I do not know what the mission of the Abe Lincoln club is, but I do know that Log Cabin's decision furthers our mission, which is to build equality for gays and lesbians in the Republican Party," Barron told the PlanetOut Network. "There are times when integrity requires that a commitment to basic fairness not be sacrificed in the name of partisan politics."
The ALBRC was co-founded by Don Sneed, who was appointed by Bush to the Presidential Advisory on HIV/AIDS. Sneed, who remains a mentor to the fledgling Dallas political group, is also the executive director of Renaissance III, a local AIDS prevention group tripped up by funding controversies.
Last month Renaissance III was ordered to pay back $112,867 to the federal government because of questionable expenses, according to the Dallas Morning News. The organization also fell into trouble with the Texas Department of Health and had to repay $76,958 in state grants. At one point Sneed blamed the problems on the "white gay establishment," according to the paper.
