Log Cabin Republicans have endorsed Gabriella Holt, a registered nurse, teacher and candidate for the 54th Assembly District.
“Our endorsement of Gabriella Holt had more to do with the fact that she wasn’t Michael Jackson than anything else,” says James Vaughn, Log Cabin’s California and Western Regional Director. “Jackson represents much of what is wrong with the Republican Party these days, in particular his censure by the Central Committee for his divisiveness.”
Holt’s Republican opponent in the primary, Raytheon engineer Michael A. Jackson, is known for his effort to have a local judge recalled after the judge delivered a difficult decision in a controversial case. In 2007, Jackson was censured by the Republican Party of Los Angeles County for being disruptive during meetings.
Log Cabin’s California members are celebrating the May 15th court decision in support of same-sex marriage, but they actually endorsed Holt and other local and state-wide candidates prior to the ruling, and a candidate’s position on the marriage issue was not a litmus test.
“Log Cabin Republicans have won the war in securing our responsibilities and freedoms as gays and lesbians in California. So our endorsements this year represent us moving forward to focus on who are the best candidates to take the GOP message of low taxes, limited government and public safety to Sacramento. A candidate’s position on gay issues was a negligible factor because frankly there is nothing left a candidate can do for or against us at this point. We’ve moved on, it’s time for the rest of the California Republican Party to do the same,” says Vaughn.
Immediately after the Court issued its ruling on same sex marriage, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement: “I respect the Court’s decision and as Governor, I will uphold its ruling. Also, as I have said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling.”
At the National Convention of Log Cabin Republicans in April 2008, Gov. Schwarzenegger had already publicly opposed any effort to pass a state constitutional amendment banning marriage for same-sex couples. He called the effort a “total waste of time” and told Log Cabin Republicans, “I will always be there to fight against that.”
In years past, a candidate’s position on this issue might have been considered critical in the endorsement process of Log Cabin Republicans. But things have changed: If the sitting Republican Governor pledges to oppose the proposed constitutional amendment to ban marriage for same-sex couples, then it stands to reason that most members of his party will respect his judgment and follow his lead. Those who continue to attempt to change the state constitution to deny some Californians their rights, are extremists who are out of step with their own party.
Up to now, Log Cabin Republicans has been the nation’s only organization of Republicans who support fairness, freedom, and equality for LGBT people. But times are changing…