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Michigan Log Cabin Republicans form PAC

By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman

WASHINGTON – On May 2, the Log Cabin Republicans of Michigan formed the Republican Pride Political Action Committee to assist in the election of fair-minded Republican candidates to local and statewide elective office.
"Today marks a great day in Michigan GLBT and Republican history," said Log Cabin Republicans of Michigan President Gregory Wright. "Only a handful of GLBT Republican PACs exist in the country and we're confident Republican Pride PAC will make a great impact in Michigan."
The announcement of Republican Pride PAC came at the close of the Annual Log Cabin Republican Convention in Washington. "This election year is extremely important in Michigan and I know the effects of our PAC will be felt," said Noel Siksai, Vice President of Political Activity for Log Cabin Republicans of Michigan. "I believe in order to gain ground for the community we must work with Republicans and identify those that can and will stand up for us in office. We don't want candidates that give us lip service when an election year or fundraiser rolls around. We're after candidates that aren't scared to be open about their support of gay rights."
Candidate questionnaires will be distributed to all Republican candidates for Michigan State House of Representatives and Senate once the filing deadline for the August primary has passed. Local candidates will be able to request a questionnaire through the Republican Pride PAC website. According to Wright, the PAC plans to announce a list of endorsed candidates in June.
Sean Kosofsky, a member of the Triangle Pride PAC elections committee, welcomed the new organization.
"I welcome any political involvement from the GLBT community, especially if it's working to elect pro-gay candidates," he said.
Kosofsky did sound one note of caution. "The Log Cabin Republicans are a Republican club that happens to be gay. Their number one mission is to elect Republicans. Their number two mission is to improve the quality of life for LGBTs that are members of the party," he said.
"Bringing that party back to a place of civil liberties and civil rights would benefit everyone," Kosofsky added.
Wright said that the issue of whether Log Cabin members are Republicans or LGBT first is something that members decide on an individual level.
"Some of our members are Republican and then gay," he said. "Others are gay and then Republican. We as a group do not pick one side or the other."
"From our perspective, on a national level we've been struggling with that – are we gay or are we Republican?" he said. "It's an individual decision for the members themselves. Especially with the '04 election, that was a major issue – whether to support Bush or not."
However, "The only candidates we [Republican Pride PAC] will be endorsing and supporting are A: Republicans; and B: ones that are supportive of GLBT issues," Wright added.
While the PAC is still in the process of putting together a candidate questionnaire, Wright was able to mention some issues that he believed would be core issues on which the organization will judge prospective candidates.
"Safe schools and second parent adoption will definitely be part of the criteria," he said. "Also hate crimes legislation as well as the amendment to Elliott Larsen – things we've seen year after year after year help identify supportive candidates."
"Following their mission and electing people to office who meet a criteria of justice that I believe the Log Cabin Republicans will do, is a good thing," said Penny Gardner, president of the Lansing Association for Human Right's PAC. "I welcome the degree of moderation that these Republicans profess."
Wright said that the Michigan PAC will not directly endorse candidates for national office, but will make recommendations about national candidates to the national Log Cabin board.
In addition to beginning its candidate evaluations, Log Cabin plans to host a fundraiser for their new PAC in the next few weeks. For more information visit http://www.republicanpridepac.org.

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