Dear Friend,

 I was fortunate to attend the Texas Republican Party Convention late last week in Houston.  Log Cabin’s Dallas chapter hosted a reception at a hotel suite in the convention hotel.  We weren’t sure how many delegates would show up.  With some wise marketing, Log Cabin—Dallas offered free pizza.  After a long and contentious day of sessions, hungry delegates, alternates, and convention attendees accepted our invitation—hundreds of them. 

For three hours, Log Cabin members served 1,100 hundred slices of pizza and 10 cases of soda.  We expected 50 people.  500 showed up before the night was over. They appreciated our hospitality and learned about our work.  Only a few people left the reception after finding out about Log Cabin’s work (they usually took their slices of pizza with them).  Others knew Log Cabin’s mission & came to offer their support.  Others understood Log Cabin’s mission and came to ask questions or challenge our agenda. 

 

We have a similar opportunity at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis but we need your support to make it happen.  Before I tell you more about what we’re planning in Minneapolis, here are some highlights from my conversations at the Log Cabin reception in Houston: 

 

  • I spoke with a young Southern Baptist woman about the Old Testament and the message of the Gospels.  I also explained to her how Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is harming our national security. 

 

  • I listened to a long-time Republican Party activist tell me about his brother who died in the early days of the AIDS epidemic.  He came to our reception as a way of showing support for our efforts.

 

  • I had a thoughtful discussion with a Texas GOP operative who wondered why we’re pushing for marriage equality when he believes most Republicans will settle for civil unions. 

    

  • I met some gay delegates who wanted to find out more about Log Cabin. 

 

  • I spoke with a young man who’s a member of the Church of Christ and a staunch social conservative.  We talked about whether people are born gay and what the Bible really says about sexual orientation.  We discussed whether two men or two women should be allowed to adopt a child. 

 

  • I shared my personal story with a nice middle age woman—telling her about my struggle to accept myself—to accept the fact that the “good son” in a large conservative Catholic Republican family could be gay.  I told her about the love my parents have shown for me.  I joked with her, “They have come to accept the fact that I’m gay.  They never could’ve accepted me if I had become Democrat.”  With a pleasant smile, she told me she complained to the human resources department when her employer started offering domestic partner benefits for gay employees.  She and her friend each left with a copy of LEF’s new white paper about the origins of sexual orientation—promising to read it. I know they will. They also left with my business card.  I told them I’m willing to continue the conversation.

 

Other Log Cabin members at the reception had similar conversations.  Almost all friendly.  Sometimes we found common ground. Sometimes we agreed to disagree. 

 

The Texas Republican Party is among the most anti-gay in the country.  The party leadership won’t tolerate discussions about inclusion. They spend all their time focused on the 10% that Republicans disagree about rather than focusing on the 90% we have in common. 

 

The State Party still won’t let Log Cabin have a booth at its convention, so we had a party instead.  Meeting one person at a time.  Starting a conversation.  Sharing a story. Listening.  There is no magic bullet to achieving all our goals.  Hard work.

 

Now there’s an opportunity to have a similar presence at the Republican National Convention this summer in Minneapolis. Throughout the convention, there’s a public exhibit space.  We hope you'll support Log Cabin's efforts to have a booth at the exhibit hall.  Log Cabin staff and members will talk with delegates, engage in conversation and hopefully gain some new allies for our cause.  We need to raise $15,000 in the next 15 days so we can have a booth in the exhibit space.  Please support us as as we do the difficult work—gaining new allies among our fellow Republicans. 

 

Gratefully,

 

Patrick J. Sammon