Log Cabin Republicans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Log Cabin Republicans

Abbreviation	LCR
Formation	1977 (1977)
Type	Political faction
Purpose	LGBT+ equality
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	United States
Chairman	Richard Tisei
Affiliations	Republican Party
Website	logcabin.org

The Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) is a group connected to the Republican Party. They work for equal rights for LGBT+ Americans. They do this by helping both the LGBT+ community and Republicans learn more about each other.

History of the Log Cabin Republicans

The Log Cabin Republicans started in 1977 in California. It was a place for Republicans who did not agree with the Briggs Initiative. This initiative tried to stop gay people from teaching in public schools. It also wanted to allow teachers to be fired if they publicly supported homosexuality.

Ronald Reagan, who was planning to run for president, spoke out against this unfair rule. He even sent a letter to a group that supported the Briggs Initiative. Parts of his letter were printed in the San Francisco Chronicle in 1978. Reagan's strong words helped defeat the Briggs Initiative.

After this success, gay conservatives in California created the Log Cabin Republicans. They first wanted to call themselves the Lincoln Club. But another Republican group already used that name. So, they chose Log Cabin Republicans instead. This name reminds people of the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln. The Log Cabin Republicans believe Lincoln started the Republican Party based on ideas of freedom and equality. They argue that their goal of an inclusive Republican Party fits these ideas.

Presidential Elections and the LCR

The Log Cabin Republicans have been involved in many presidential elections. They often decide whether to support the Republican candidate.

1992 Presidential Election

In 1992, the Log Cabin Republicans met in Spring, Texas. They discussed if they should support President George H. W. Bush for re-election. The group decided not to support him. This was because Bush did not speak out against anti-gay comments at the 1992 Republican National Convention.

1996 Presidential Election

In 1995, the campaign of Republican candidate Bob Dole returned a $1,000 donation from the LCR. This happened after a newspaper reporter asked about it. Dole's campaign said they completely disagreed with the LCR's goals. This caused a big stir and was reported in major newspapers like The New York Times.

Many people, including news commentators, criticized Dole. They said he was changing his mind and being unfair. Dole later said he regretted returning the money. He told Washington Post editor Bob Woodward that it was a "mistake." He felt it made him seem intolerant.

After this, the LCR met with Dole's team. They asked for certain things to endorse him. These included no anti-gay speeches at the 1996 Republican National Convention. They also wanted a gay person to speak. On the last night of the convention, Stephen Fong spoke. He was the president of the San Francisco LCR chapter. He was the first openly gay speaker at a Republican National Convention.

Later, Dole's campaign said they welcomed the LCR's support. The LCR then voted to endorse Dole for president. Dole also promised to keep a rule that stopped discrimination based on sexual orientation in federal jobs. He also pledged to fully fund AIDS programs.

2000 Presidential Election

The Log Cabin Republicans supported George W. Bush in the 2000 election.

2004 Presidential Election

In 2004, the group did not support George W. Bush for re-election. This was because he supported the Federal Marriage Amendment. This amendment would have changed the Constitution to say that marriage could only be between one man and one woman. The LCR voted 22 to 2 against supporting Bush. One local chapter in Florida did support him, and their official status was removed.

2008 Presidential Election

In 2008, the LCR decided to support John McCain and Sarah Palin. The main reason was McCain's opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment. This amendment would have banned same-sex marriage.

2012 Presidential Election

On October 23, 2012, the LCR officially supported Mitt Romney. They did this even though Romney wanted a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage. He also did not want to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. The LCR said they supported Romney because of serious economic and national security issues. They hoped Romney would change his mind about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, but he did not.

2016 Presidential Election

On October 22, 2016, the national LCR board voted not to support Donald Trump. However, some local chapters in Colorado, Georgia, Texas, and California did support him.

Surveys showed that Trump received the lowest percentage of the LGBT vote for any Republican presidential candidate since 1992. He got only 14% of the LGBT vote. This was less than Mitt Romney, who received 22% in 2012.

On November 9, 2016, the national LCR congratulated Donald Trump on his win.

2020 Presidential Election

In November 2018, Jerri Ann Henry became the first woman to lead the Log Cabin Republicans. She said that while Trump had supported LGBT people more than some other Republican presidents, there had also been "ups and downs."

Despite some concerns, the Log Cabin Republicans supported Trump more than a year before the election. On August 16, 2019, the group's leaders explained their reasons in a newspaper article. Three women resigned from the group in protest.

2024 Presidential Election

In April 2024, Melania Trump attended a fundraiser for the Log Cabin Republicans. This was a rare political appearance for her. The money raised will help teach conservative voters in important states about conservative LGBTQ+ causes. It will also share pro-Trump messages with gay and lesbian communities.

Log Cabin Republicans v. United States

The LCR filed a lawsuit in federal court against the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy. This policy stopped gay people from openly serving in the U.S. military. The trial began on July 13, 2010. The LCR argued that DADT violated the rights of gay military members. These rights included freedom of speech and due process. The government argued that DADT was needed for national security.

On September 9, 2010, the judge ruled in favor of the LCR. She found that DADT violated the First and Fifth Amendments.

However, on September 29, 2011, a higher court canceled the lower court's decision. This was because President Barack Obama and Congress had already ended the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in December 2010. So, the case was no longer needed. This meant the lower court's ruling could not be used as a legal example for future cases.

What the Log Cabin Republicans Believe

The Log Cabin Republicans have a clear statement of their beliefs. They say: "We are loyal Republicans. We believe in limited government, strong national defense, free markets, low taxes, personal responsibility, and individual liberty."

They also state that they represent an important part of the American family. They are taxpaying, hard-working people who believe in America's greatness. They also believe all Americans should have liberty and equality. They think equality for LGBT Americans fits well with the Republican Party's main ideas of smaller government and personal freedom. They work to teach their party why being inclusive helps them succeed.

Social Issues

On social issues, the LCR sometimes disagrees with other conservatives or stays neutral. When it comes to gay and lesbian rights, the LCR supports same-sex marriage. They also support fair tax rules for domestic partner benefits. Their website has an "Equality Map." This map shows information on state laws about things like job discrimination, relationship recognition, and anti-bullying rules.

In 2017, the LCR asked Donald Trump to bring back protections for transgender students. These protections included allowing students to use bathrooms that match their gender identity.

However, in the early 2020s, some local chapters have taken different stances on transgender rights. For example, the New Hampshire and Texas chapters support laws that would tell parents if their children are transgender. They also oppose gender-affirming care for young people. The LCR president, Charles Moran, has advised against laws that force teachers to tell parents if their children might be gay or transgender. But he has also agreed with some actions that limit children's access to information about LGBT people.

In 2023, the Virginia chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans supported Governor Glenn Youngkin's policies on LGBTQ+ issues. The LCR president supported "common-sense protections for biological women." He also said that a "radical gender theory" is being taught in schools and should be opposed. This was criticized by a local LGBTQ+ group.

When the Human Rights Campaign said there was a state of emergency for the LGBT community, Moran disagreed. He pointed to President Biden signing a law supporting same-sex marriage. He said this showed LGBT people were not in danger. Moran also expressed concerns about some aspects of trans liberation.

National Defense

The Log Cabin Republicans believe in a strong foreign policy and national defense. They think it is important for the United States to remain a strong military power. They believe the U.S. should be ready to take on its responsibilities around the world. They also see the U.S. as a symbol of freedom. The LCR also points out the unfair treatment of gay and lesbian people worldwide. This often happens in countries with strict governments that support terrorism and do not respect human rights.

LCR Chapters Across the U.S.

Since 1977, the Log Cabin Republicans have grown across the United States. They now have 35 chapters in 26 states and Washington, D.C.

See also

• DeploraBall
• Deplorable Pride
• Gay Conservatives
• Gay Republicans (2004 film)
• 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
• LGBT conservatism in the United States