With the state GOP convention coming to Dallas this weekend, what better time to share the above video posted recently by Dallas Log Cabin President Rob Schlein. The video, “On the Front Lines,” recounts the story of the 1998 Texas Republican convention in Fort Worth, when Log Cabin was denied a booth. After being compared to pedophiles and the KKK by a state party spokesman, Log Cabin staged a rally outside the FW convention center that was crashed by anti-gay counterprotesters. The video, which features Dallas activists such as John Loza (now a Democrat) and Lory Masters, is definitely worth a look if you haven’t seen it already.
As for this weekend’s convention, Schlein said he’ll be one of about 20 known delegates who are Log Cabin members. But he added that Log Cabin didn’t request a booth this year for a variety of reasons — not the least of which being the fact that the request would almost certainly have been denied, as it has been every year. Instead, Schlein said he and other Log Cabin members are focused on the election for state party chair, which pits incumbent (and anti-gay former Eagle Forum President) Cathie Adams against two challengers.
“I will be supporting another candidate besides Cathie Adams, but I’m not going to disclose who,” Schlein told me today. “I think both would be an improvement over what we have.”
Schlein lost by a handful of votes to Cathie Adams’ husband, Homer, in a race for chair of their Far North Dallas precinct in March. He said an incumbent state party chair has never been defeated in a bid for re-election, but he thinks Cathie Adams is vulnerable. “I suspect it’s going to be a nailbiter,” he said.
Schlein added that he isn’t expecting Log Cabin-backed resolutions to remove anti-gay language from the state party platform to go forward this year.
“I think we’ll have a better opportunity to change things once we get a new state chairman,” Schlein said.
5 Comments
I marched against Reagan at the 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas.
Dr. Spock, the baby doctor, chopped up an effigy of Reagan with an axe, and the crowd talked of breaking into nearby Lew Sterrett Justice Center. My friend Chip and I marched right next to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, they had flown in from the Bay. It was a Republican Convention to remember…google it, you’ll see.
I don’t think you can muster the hate that we all had for Ray-gun at the time….
What a bunch of schmucks.
Schlein wants to back another contender, but won’t divulge which one. No doubt because he knows that either will disavow his and LCR’s support.
These people need to wise up to the fact that homophobia, bigotry, and hatred are the three legs that support the stool thst is the republican party. (double entendre intended).
Once again the LCR amazes me. They are unwelcome in their own party, they are demonized in their party’s platform and can’t even get a booth at their convention. When is it going to sink in? They are supporting their own enemy!
Though I could NEVER see myself ever being a republican, I must say that it takes more cajones to be a gay republican than a gay democrat. Trying to change hearts and minds within this party may seem like the most idiotic thing to most people but they truly support the republican platform (excluding gay rights of course) and I have much respect for them. Great vid.
Without the calculated efforts of LCR the removal of Cathie Adams as state chair would not have happened. She lost by over 2000 votes at the convention on Saturday which is some indication the Big Tent party is changing albeit slow. Politics is a blood sport. Either you have the guts to fight or you don’t. Fortunately for all of us our democracy is not built on a one party system.