News

Log Cabin Praises Guinn for Signing Nevada ENDA

Eleventh State, Fifth GOP Governor in Nation to Enact Non-Discrimination Law

June 2, 1999

(WASHINGTON, DC) – The leader of the nation's largest gay Republican organization praised Governor Kenny Guinn (R) of Nevada for signing the Nevada Employment Non-Discrimination Act into law on May 29, making Nevada the eleventh state in the nation to enact such a law – and making Guinn the fifth Republican governor in American history to sign one.

"Enacting this important legislation is a major step forward for the state of Nevada," wrote Rich Tafel, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans, in a letter to Guinn, "and further shows the ability of the Republican Party to be a force for positive change in the lives of all people, including gays and lesbians."

Nevada joins ten other states and the District of Columbia in enacting anti-discrimination protection for gays and lesbians. Guinn is the fifth Republican governor to sign such a bill, following the Republican governors of Rhode Island (1995), Minnesota (1993), California (1992) and Governor Lee Dreyfus of Wisconsin, a Republican who signed the first statewide gay rights law in the United States in 1983. The Nevada Republican Party was the first state GOP to appoint an openly gay person as its Executive Director, the highest paid staff position of a state Republican Party. Dan Burdish, founder of Log Cabin Las Vegas, served in the position from 1996-1999, after serving for eight years on the Clark County GOP Central Committee, four years on the Nevada GOP Central Committee and on the 1992 Nevada State GOP Platform Committee.

"We look forward to continuing to work with you and other Republican governors around the country in building an inclusive Republican Party that is a force for positive change in America," Tafel wrote to Guinn.

---

[TEXT OF LETTER FROM RICH TAFEL TO GOVERNOR KENNY GUINN (R)]

June 2, 1999

The Honorable Kenny Guinn
Governor of Nevada

Dear Governor Guinn:

I am writing today to thank you on behalf of Log Cabin Republicans for your support of the Nevada Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which you signed into law on May 29. Enacting this important legislation is a major step forward for the state of Nevada, and further shows the ability of the Republican Party to be a force for positive change in the lives of all people, including gays and lesbians.

You have joined other Republican governors in signing similar non-discrimination bills into law, including Governor Lincoln Almond of Rhode Island (1995), former Governor Arne Carlson of Minnesota (1993), former Governor Pete Wilson of California (1992), and the first governor to sign such a bill in the United States – former Governor Lee Dreyfus of Wisconsin (1983), also a Republican.

We look forward to continuing to work with you and other Republican governors around the country in building an inclusive Republican Party that is a force for positive change in America. Thank you for your commitment to equality.

Sincerely,

Richard L. Tafel
Executive Director

cc: Dan Burdish, Log Cabin Las Vegas, Past Executive Director of Nevada GOP