This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/29/gay-republican-group-marriage-rights
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Gay Republican group: freedom to marry lines up with GOP ideals | Gay Republican group: freedom to marry lines up with GOP ideals |
| (7 months later) | |
| High above the Republican national convention, on the 41st floor of a downtown Tampa skyscraper, the Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry gathered on Wednesday morning to discuss the contentious issue of promoting gay rights within the Republican Party. | High above the Republican national convention, on the 41st floor of a downtown Tampa skyscraper, the Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry gathered on Wednesday morning to discuss the contentious issue of promoting gay rights within the Republican Party. |
| The fringe setting felt somehow appropriate for the group, whose campaign for gay marriage to be made legal across the country means it sits uneasily within the GOP. The party's official platform, published this week, specifically sets out to introduce laws to prevent gay marriage, as well as reinstate 'don't ask don't tell' in the military. | The fringe setting felt somehow appropriate for the group, whose campaign for gay marriage to be made legal across the country means it sits uneasily within the GOP. The party's official platform, published this week, specifically sets out to introduce laws to prevent gay marriage, as well as reinstate 'don't ask don't tell' in the military. |
| It is an uncomfortable position for gay Republicans to be in, but they are fighting hard for recognition from the party hierarchy. Supporters of equal rights within the party argue that allowing gay people to marry is in line with the GOP's stated preference for individual freedom and less government interference. It was a line oft-repeated on Wednesday. | It is an uncomfortable position for gay Republicans to be in, but they are fighting hard for recognition from the party hierarchy. Supporters of equal rights within the party argue that allowing gay people to marry is in line with the GOP's stated preference for individual freedom and less government interference. It was a line oft-repeated on Wednesday. |
| "Republicans claim they want small government. They want small government when it comes to entitlement programs, when it comes to Medicare and Medicaid, but when it comes to social issues, they are not as small as they are [on those issues]," said David Lamando, a 21-year-old from New Jersey who hopes to rise within the party. | "Republicans claim they want small government. They want small government when it comes to entitlement programs, when it comes to Medicare and Medicaid, but when it comes to social issues, they are not as small as they are [on those issues]," said David Lamando, a 21-year-old from New Jersey who hopes to rise within the party. |
| Lamando registered with the Democratic Party aged 18 – "They loved me over there," he said – but felt more affinity with conservative economic beliefs and became involved with the GOP after meeting with Log Cabin Republicans – a group which campaigns for gay rights. He is now hoping for a political career within the party. | Lamando registered with the Democratic Party aged 18 – "They loved me over there," he said – but felt more affinity with conservative economic beliefs and became involved with the GOP after meeting with Log Cabin Republicans – a group which campaigns for gay rights. He is now hoping for a political career within the party. |
| "It will be harder to rise as a Republican but what's easy is not always right and change is not going to happen unless 21-year-olds like me do it." | "It will be harder to rise as a Republican but what's easy is not always right and change is not going to happen unless 21-year-olds like me do it." |
| Freedom to Marry, the organisation with which the conservative group is affiliated, teamed up with the Log Cabin Republicans to run a full page ad in Wednesday's Tampa Tribune newspaper. The ad stated that allowing gay marriage fits Republicans' non-interference, individual freedom ideals. | Freedom to Marry, the organisation with which the conservative group is affiliated, teamed up with the Log Cabin Republicans to run a full page ad in Wednesday's Tampa Tribune newspaper. The ad stated that allowing gay marriage fits Republicans' non-interference, individual freedom ideals. |
| "As conservatives we believe that the freedom to marry is directly in line with the core ideals and principles of the Republican party – less government, more individual freedom, personal responsibility and the importance of family," the ad read. | "As conservatives we believe that the freedom to marry is directly in line with the core ideals and principles of the Republican party – less government, more individual freedom, personal responsibility and the importance of family," the ad read. |
| Margaret Hoover, great-granddaughter of Herbert and a former George W Bush campaign official, is on Freedom to Marry's leadership committee and a staunch believer that the party must modernise. Hoover appealed to the core values of the Republican party in an address to the young conservatives on Wednesday. | Margaret Hoover, great-granddaughter of Herbert and a former George W Bush campaign official, is on Freedom to Marry's leadership committee and a staunch believer that the party must modernise. Hoover appealed to the core values of the Republican party in an address to the young conservatives on Wednesday. |
| "If you believe in conservatism, if you believe in individual freedom, if you believe that people take care of people, the government doesn't take care of people, and if you want to have societies based on strong relationships, the fundamental relationship in any community is the partnership that you make with your spouse. | "If you believe in conservatism, if you believe in individual freedom, if you believe that people take care of people, the government doesn't take care of people, and if you want to have societies based on strong relationships, the fundamental relationship in any community is the partnership that you make with your spouse. |
| "I believe every American should have that freedom, and that is wholly consistent with being a party of individual freedom." | "I believe every American should have that freedom, and that is wholly consistent with being a party of individual freedom." |
| The problem for pro-equality Republicans is that they are a relatively small voice within their party, whose right-wing is dominated by those whose Christian faith heavily influences their stance on social issues. | The problem for pro-equality Republicans is that they are a relatively small voice within their party, whose right-wing is dominated by those whose Christian faith heavily influences their stance on social issues. |
| The uphill battle they face was exemplified during the Republican primary campaign, where Rick Santorum, a man who has attracted criticism for comparing gay marriage to bestiality, was the candidate to run Mitt Romney closest. Tony Perkins, president of the right-wing Family Research Council, was involved in drafting the GOP platform, which is unequivocal in its definition of marriage. | The uphill battle they face was exemplified during the Republican primary campaign, where Rick Santorum, a man who has attracted criticism for comparing gay marriage to bestiality, was the candidate to run Mitt Romney closest. Tony Perkins, president of the right-wing Family Research Council, was involved in drafting the GOP platform, which is unequivocal in its definition of marriage. |
| "We believe that marriage, the union of one man and one woman must be upheld as the national standard a goal to stand for, encourage, and promote through laws governing marriage," the Republican platform says. | "We believe that marriage, the union of one man and one woman must be upheld as the national standard a goal to stand for, encourage, and promote through laws governing marriage," the Republican platform says. |
| With the GOP's official stance so opposed to same-sex marriage it is unlikely to attract floods of the more liberal conservatives who could help change views within the party. | With the GOP's official stance so opposed to same-sex marriage it is unlikely to attract floods of the more liberal conservatives who could help change views within the party. |
| Casey Pick, the 28-year-old programmes director of Log Cabin Republicans, admitted the document was "damaging" to Republicans' election hopes. "We know especially that support for freedom for all is strong among moderates and conservatives, younger voters and women, all of whom will be critical to winning elections in 2012 and beyond," she said. | Casey Pick, the 28-year-old programmes director of Log Cabin Republicans, admitted the document was "damaging" to Republicans' election hopes. "We know especially that support for freedom for all is strong among moderates and conservatives, younger voters and women, all of whom will be critical to winning elections in 2012 and beyond," she said. |
| Lamando, who is student body vice-president at Stockton College in New Jersey, said the hardline platform is "a mistake, a big mistake". But he is willing to work to drag the Republican party towards the centre. | Lamando, who is student body vice-president at Stockton College in New Jersey, said the hardline platform is "a mistake, a big mistake". But he is willing to work to drag the Republican party towards the centre. |
| "People like Rick Santorum are not the voice of the Republican party," he said. | "People like Rick Santorum are not the voice of the Republican party," he said. |
| "[Marriage] is not the gateway to man on dog, man on cat, because people can only marry people. And there are only two lines on an American marriage certificate." | "[Marriage] is not the gateway to man on dog, man on cat, because people can only marry people. And there are only two lines on an American marriage certificate." |
| guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am |