- Former Commerce Secretary Robert Mosbacher
Rob Mosbacher served as Secretary of Commerce under Pres. George H.W. Bush from 1989 until 1992. He died in Houston Sunday at the age of 82.
His daughter Dee is a lesbian who made the Academy Award nominated film “Straight from the Heart” as a response to the Republican anti-gay agenda.
The Washington Post wrote today, “It was a period during which the GOP intensified anti-gay, anti-abortion rhetoric, requiring Mr. Mosbacher — whose daughter Diane is a lesbian — to walk a delicate line between the personal and political.”
At the 1992 Republican convention, Pat Buchanan declared a “cultural war” on gays and lesbians.
Robert Bray, a spokesperson for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force at the time, said, “How can he be committed to anything that is set on destroying his daughter?”
Dee Mosbacher said, “I would suspect the conflict has been pretty tough on Dad.”
Her father said, “I sleep fine at night” and said it was unfair to characterize the president, the party or the convention as anything but tolerant of homosexuals.
- Dee Mosbacher
Today’s Post continued, “In support of his daughter, Mr. Mosbacher agreed to meet with gay leaders, reportedly making the Bush administration the first to be briefed on gay issues. The party’s evangelical right pilloried Mr. Mosbacher. His daughter told The Post, ‘Dad said … he didn’t know what else family values is if it’s not supporting your kids and who they are.’”
Among the gay leaders Mosbacher spoke to was John Thomas, then executive director of Resource Center Dallas, Rafael McDonnell of the Resource Center said.
Dee Mosbacher once told a reporter a story that took place the morning both were going to deliver commencement addresses.
She said, “Dad and I had breakfast this morning. We looked at each other’s speeches. He would have used mine but he’s not a lesbian. I would have used his, but I’m not a Republican.”