# Republicans finally enter the 20th century (sexual orientation) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 23, 2002, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168 "2002-04-23T16:49:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/1 "2002-04-23T16:49:43Z")
From the [News Telegraph](http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/04/23/wchen23.xml) > [@](#): > > THE lesbian daughter of Dick Cheney, the American vice-president… Mary Cheney has joined a Republican group whose aim is to persuade party leaders to accept gay men and women into their ranks. > \ > She said: “We can expand the party’s outreach to non-traditional Republicans; we can make sexual orientation a non-issue for the party; and we can help achieve equality for all gay and lesbian Americans.” I support her and her group for the three reasons cited in the quote. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/2 "2002-04-23T17:05:23Z")
Well, being one century behind isn’t bad, I guess. 🙂 This is actually an interesting development, not because this is the first group for gay Republicans, or to get gay people to vote Republican, because it’s not…the Log Cabin Republicans have been out there for a while. However, for a long time, the LCR has been marginalized and largely ignored by the party as a whole. I think that this group has the chance to change that. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/3 "2002-04-23T17:26:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Miss Cheney told Mr Sullivan that she had joined the board of the Republican Unity Coalition, which aims to fight for gay people and persuade them that the party is not a bastion of hostile religious conservatives. Shouldn’t they first persuade the Republicans to _stop_ being a bastion of hostile religious conservatives? ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/4 "2002-04-23T18:04:27Z")
She might want to start with her father’s boss, who has stated that he would not appoint openly gay people to his administration and opposed permitting adoptions by gay parents while governor of Texas. Good luck beating your head against the wall, Mary! ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/5 "2002-04-23T18:20:49Z")
Here’s another thing the Republicans can do to join the previous century. Take a roll of duct tape. Cut off a piece. Apply to Tom DeLay’s mouth. ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/6 "2002-04-23T18:29:54Z")
**december,** did it occur to you that the fact there is a _need_ for a Republican Unity Coalition demonstrates that the GOP has **not** joined the 20th Century. Certainly the adherents of the Unity Coalition has, but they are not the Republican Party. Sadly, this (and related issues) are precisely why I am not a Republican. While I have huge problems with both, when it comes down to it, I’d much rather be associated with Jesse Jackson than Jesse Helms. Sua ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/7 "2002-04-23T18:31:34Z")
IIRC, wasn’t Mary Cheney the Cheney daughter who was conspicuously absent during the 2000 Republican Convention? I vaguely recall some news outlets noting that Mary was proving to be a sticky wicket because her sexual orientation was making the GOP leadership nervous. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/8 "2002-04-23T18:44:47Z")
I wouldn’t get your hopes up. Lynn Cheney STILL refuses to admit her daughter is even gay! ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/9 "2002-04-23T18:54:43Z")
> [@](#): > > She might want to start with her father’s boss, who has stated that he would not appoint openly gay people to his administration… Though I don’t want to get into a “Is George W evil” hijack, I’d like to see a cite for this, **minty** , and your opinion of how he happens to have appointed two gay men (one to a temporary job) and have been (indirectly) quoted elsewhere as having taken the stance that orientation doesn’t matter. However, what he did as Governor of Texas does seem to mitigate against any _commitment_ towards gays and their rights, just indicates that he’s playing politics – with a conservative constituency, steer hard right; with a national coalition, keep to the middle of the road. IIRC, someone was quoted in summer 2000 as saying that Mary was staying away from the convention precisely for the purpose of not putting her father in a bad spot with the religious Right. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/10 "2002-04-23T19:08:29Z")
[Cite](http://uspolitics.about.com/library/weekly/aa040800a.htm). [Another cite](http://www.datalounge.com/datalounge/news/record.html?record=6626) saying he’s given conflicting answers to the question. [Ditto](http://www.advocate.com/html/stories/838/838_atissue_appointees.asp). ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/11 "2002-04-23T19:13:49Z")
Oh, and don’t forget the time that Dubya expressed support for the Texas anti-sodomy laws. ---
**Author:** ![TheeGrumpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheeGrumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheeGrumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/12 "2002-04-23T21:33:09Z")
Maybe instead of a Big Tent Political Party to which everyone can belong (I call mine the _100% Party_; yes, you’re a member too), maybe the United States needs, say, more than two parties. (Sorry, Greens, Libs, et cetera. Just being realistic.) Like maybe a socially conservative party that doesn’t care about fiscal policy. And a fiscally conservative party that puts a low priority on social issues. And vice-versa, only backwards. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/13 "2002-04-24T04:02:58Z")
From the [2000 Republican Party Platform](http://www.rnc.org/gopinfo/platform), [Renewing Family and Community](http://www.rnc.org/GOPInfo/Platform/2000platform4): > [@](#): > > **Family Matters** > …We support the traditional definition of “marriage” as the legal union of one man and one woman, and we believe that federal judges and bureaucrats should not force states to recognize other living arrangements as marriages. We rely on the home, as did the founders of the American Republic, to instill the virtues that sustain democracy itself. That belief led Congress to enact the Defense of Marriage Act, which a Republican Department of Justice will energetically defend in the courts. For the same reason, we do not believe sexual preference should be given special legal protection or standing in law. Oh, yes: “we do not believe sexual preference should be given special legal protection or standing in law”. But, from the next section (“Upholding the Rights of All”): “We therefore oppose discrimination based on sex, race, age, religion, creed, disability, or national origin and will vigorously enforce anti-discrimination statutes.” So, the Republicans _do_ think sex, race, age, religion, creed, disability and national origin should be given special legal protection or standing in law, but that sexual orientation should not be given “special”–i.e., normal–legal protection or standing in law. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/14 "2002-04-24T08:00:17Z")
Just take a big ol’ razor and amputate the Falwell Republicans, set them on an uninhabited island somewhere, and let them hate each other until they kill themselves off. Go, Mary. ---
**Author:** ![JDM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/90db22/32.png) [@JDM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDM)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/15 "2002-04-24T18:20:42Z")
With the Republicans pushing the homosexual agenda like this, I have no choice but to vote Democratic. JDM ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/16 "2002-04-24T19:02:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JDM \* > \*\*With the Republicans pushing the homosexual agenda like this, I have no choice but to vote Democratic. JDM \*\* If this isn’t a whoosh, care to tell me what the homosexual agenda is? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/17 "2002-04-24T19:09:33Z")
My homosexual agenda is Get up Go to work Come home Watch a little TV Go to bed. Damn, but I’m diabolical! ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/18 "2002-04-24T19:22:42Z")
_pointing at **gobear** _ He’s one of them! ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/19 "2002-04-24T19:31:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minty green \* > \*\*She might want to start with her father’s boss, who has stated that he would not appoint openly gay people to his administration and opposed permitting adoptions by gay parents while governor of Texas. Good luck beating your head against the wall, Mary! \*\* Dick Cheney’s boss is the American people. He may have been chosen to be on the same ticket, but the vice president is separately voted on by the electors. As a practical matter, the vp does answer to the President, but does not have to do so, is not dischargable and presides over the Senate as the President of the Senate. Besides, Uncle Dick tells the Dub what to do, not the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168/20 "2002-04-24T19:34:13Z")
Thanks for clearing that up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-finally-enter-the-20th-century-sexual-orientation/105168.md?page=2)