News

Log Cabin Republicans Applaud Mary Cheney for Sharing Her Personal Story

Cheney Joins Father in Opposing Anti-Family Constitutional Amendment

May 9, 2006

(Washington, DC) – "Log Cabin Republicans applaud Mary Cheney for sharing her personal and family story," says Log Cabin President Patrick Guerriero. "There is never an easy or perfect path in the journey of speaking out as a gay or lesbian American. This journey is made all the more difficult when you are in the public eye. Mary Cheney's story reflects the story of so many Americans who choose to be honest and open about their sexual orientation with their families.

"The conversations and journeys to acceptance that gay Americans share with their families are deeply personal. Mary Cheney's story is another reminder that these conversations happen in families everywhere in this country: Republican and Democratic, liberal and conservative, in red states and blue states.

"Cheney's voice as the daughter of the Vice President is especially welcome as members of the House and Senate debate a constitutional amendment aimed at marginalizing all gay and lesbian families. Mary Cheney's conservative voice can help remind loyal Republicans this proposal violates basic conservative principles," says Guerriero.

It is notable that Vice President Cheney's support for his daughter, and for other gay and lesbian Americans, has extended into the public sphere. In the 2000 Vice Presidential debate with Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Mr. Cheney said,

'Freedom means freedom for everybody. We shouldn't be able to choose and say you get to live free and you don't. That means people should be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to enter into. It's no one's business in terms of regulating behavior in that regard... The fact of the matter is that matter [the legal recognition of relationships] is regulated by the states. I think different states are likely to come to different conclusions, and that's appropriate. I don't think there should necessarily be a federal policy in this area.'

Cheney's quote became the centerpiece of Log Cabin's first ever television ad campaign which helped lead to the 2004 defeat of the anti-family constitutional amendment in both the U.S. Senate and House.

In August 2004, Vice President Cheney made it even clearer that he does not support an anti-family constitutional amendment – marking the only time since being sworn in as Vice President that he publicly expressed disagreement with the President. Cheney said,

'Lynne and I have a gay daughter, so it's an issue that our family is very familiar with. We have two daughters, and we have enormous pride in both of them... And we are blessed with both our daughters. The question that comes up with respect to the issue of marriage is what kind of official sanction, or approval is going to be granted by government... Historically, that's been a relationship that has been handled by the states. I made clear four years ago... that my view was that that's appropriately a matter for the states to decide, that that's how it ought to best be handled.'