# Log Cabin Republicans **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2000, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/log-cabin-republicans/30365 "2000-08-22T22:44:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/log-cabin-republicans/30365/1 "2000-08-22T22:44:54Z")
Earlier on this board there was a lengthy discussion about the evidence that Abraham Lincoln was supposedly gay. Is this why the “Log Cabin” caucus of gay Republicans chose that moniker? ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/log-cabin-republicans/30365/2 "2000-08-23T01:04:25Z")
I’ve never heard anything about Lincoln being a possible homosexual, but I believe the “Log Cabin” moniker is to draw attention to the Republican Party being the “party of Lincoln,” one that is tolerant and inviting of people who don’t look or act like the norm of the party. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/log-cabin-republicans/30365/3 "2000-08-23T05:20:31Z")
The Log Cabin Republicans do have a website. It is [http://www.lcr.org](http://www.lcr.org) It didn’t explain the name, but the group’s logo features a picture of Abe Lincoln. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/log-cabin-republicans/30365/4 "2000-08-23T12:11:55Z")
The idea of Lincoln being homosexual and having a long term relationship with John Speed, a lifelong friend of Abe’s, has been publicized most notably by gay activist, Academy Award nominee and Pulitzer Prize nominee Larry Kramer. [Was Lincoln gay?](http://www.salon.com/books/it/1999/04/30/lincoln/) As for the origin of the LCR, my interpretation of a quote from the [LCR of New York](http://www.lcrny.org/) website indicates that it is not based on Lincoln’s alleged homosexuality: > [@](#): > > We are joining other mainstream Republicans to fight for the future of our party - to defeat the Far Right and bring the Republican Party back to its roots as the party of moderation and inclusion - the party of Abraham Lincoln. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/log-cabin-republicans/30365/5 "2000-08-23T17:12:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alphagene \* > \*\*The idea of Lincoln being homosexual and having a long term relationship with John Speed, a lifelong friend of Abe’s, has been publicized most notably by gay activist, Academy Award nominee and Pulitzer Prize nominee Larry Kramer. > > [Was Lincoln gay?](http://www.salon.com/books/it/1999/04/30/lincoln/) > > As for the origin of the LCR, my interpretation of a quote from the [LCR of New York](http://www.lcrny.org/) website indicates that it is not based on Lincoln’s alleged homosexuality: > > > [@](#): > > > > We are joining other mainstream Republicans to fight for the future of our party - to defeat the Far Right and bring the Republican Party back to its roots as the party of moderation and inclusion - the party of Abraham Lincoln. > > \*\* Reading the responses, it makes a lot sense that the LCR group would choose Lincoln as a symbol simply because he was the first great leader of the party. Any group within the GOP might well do the same. As for the argument that Honest Abe was gay because he shared a bed with John Speed, that’s got to be a reflection of the times. Bed sharing was common in those days. Even fifty years ago, the Three Stooges often shared a bed in their films–obviously meant to illustrate an impoverished lifestyle more than anything else. Moving forward in time, I seem to remember that as recently as 20 or 25 years ago it was “okay” for a guy riding on the back of a motorcycle to hold on to the guy driving, but now when two guys are on a motorcycle the passenger always grips the seat bar behind him. That’s gotta be tiring after a while. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/log-cabin-republicans/30365/6 "2000-08-23T17:39:13Z")
When I rode on the back of a friend’s motorcycle about 12 years ago, I grabbed on to him and held on with all my might. My sense of self-preservation overcame whatever stupid preconceptions others might have. ---
**Author:** ![TampaFlyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71e660/32.png) [@TampaFlyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TampaFlyer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/log-cabin-republicans/30365/7 "2000-08-23T17:44:25Z")
I agree with BobT- safety is more important than what some stranger thinks.