News

Log Cabin responds to Presidential press conference

Log Cabin agrees with Vice-President Cheney

July 30, 2003

Log Cabin Republicans are concerned following comments from President George W. Bush today in a Rose Garden press conference.

Responding to a reporter's question on the morality of homosexuality the President responded, "...I think it's very important for our society to respect each individual, to welcome those with good hearts, to be a welcoming country." The President then went on to say that he would not compromise his long standing belief that marriage should be between a man and a women and that White House lawyers are looking at ways to codify that position.

"Log Cabin reminds the President that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), signed by President Clinton in 1996, defined marriage as being between only a man and a women. The bill passed Congress with bi-partisan support. There are far more important priorities facing our nation than duplicating existing federal legislation. We encourage the White House to focus on winning the war on terror and jump-starting the American economy.

Guerriero continued, "Log Cabin Republicans believe in civil recognition of gay and lesbians couples in committed relationships. This basic recognition would encourage stable families, offer tax fairness, insure inheritance rights and guarantee hospital visitation rights for American families. Despite misinformation from the radical right, this civil recognition would in no way interfere in religious freedom or religious traditions."

Log Cabin Republicans agree with Vice-President Dick Cheney on this issue. In his vice-presidential debate in 2000, Cheney stated, "People should be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to enter into. It is really no one else's business, in terms of trying to regulate or – or prohibit behavior in that regard. ...I think we ought to do everything we can to – to tolerate and accommodate whatever kind of relationships people want to enter into."