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Republicans Sign Non-Discrimination Policies on Capitol Hill Covering Gays and Lesbians

Conservatives, Freshmen Join in Prohibiting Anti-Gay Discrimination in Hill Offices

March 27, 1997

(WASHINGTON) Several GOP Members of Congress have confirmed to Log Cabin Republicans that, as a matter of policy, they do not permit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the hiring, firing or promoting of personnel in their Hill offices.

As one of its top priorities in the 105th Congress, LCR requested written clarification of the non-discrimination policies in each Republican Member's office, specifically addressing sexual orientation. Responses to LCR's March 3 request have begun arriving at LCR's Washington office, including from some Republicans who had not publicly clarified their policies in previous years.

Rep. Mark Neumann (R-WI) was one of several new confirmations received by Log Cabin Republicans, including Rep. Charlie Bass (R-NH), Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH), and newly-elected Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-NV). All were declaring for the first time that the sexual orientation of an individual is not a consideration in the hiring, firing or promoting of employees in their offices.

As of today, a total of 24 GOP Senators and 69 GOP House Members have certified in writing that they do not discriminate against gays and lesbians in their offices.

"We are finding more doors opening on this issue than ever before," said Richard Tafel, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans. "We will continue to seek meetings with every Republican office on this matter until we have a full picture of where the Members stand."