USA
 

The Black Gay Republicans Challenge  Log Cabin Republican Leadership to Debate Endorsement of Bush

WASHINGTON, – After having set off a national political firestorm, which still rages in America's gay communities, Internet chat rooms and bars, Don Sneed, Co-Founder/Civic Consultant for the Abe Lincoln Black Republican Caucus (ALBRC) appeared on the John Mullen Show, broadcast nationally on a gay Internet radio station, and issued a challenge to Patrick Guerriero, Executive Director of the Log Cabin Republicans, to debate the merits of the fledging inner city black gay Republican group's endorsement of President Bush for re-election.

“For two days, Anthony (ALBRC National Spokesman and Dallas Republican Precinct Chairman) and I have been responding to calls and granting interviews about the ALBRC Bush endorsement,” Sneed said.

“Unfortunately, we have received many ugly, belligerent and hostile phone calls from gays across the nation condemning our decision to endorse and support the President for re-election,” he rev revealed.

“Some callers have questioned our right to independent thought and decision with such statements as: ‘You're Blacks; you should have endorsed him as Blacks! No gays should support him.’”

Sneed went on to say: “Yet we have also received calls of support and encouragement (from black and white gays) and inquiries about them about starting chapters of the ALBRC in their cities.”

“The hostility we are receiving is from people who don't understand our legitimate reasons for endorsing and supporting President Bush's re-election,” said Anthony Falls, ALBRC National Spokesman.

“This decision is well thought out; it has merit, we are sticking with the decision, and we will not be bullied by those who claim that they should decide what black gays should think and do when it comes to politics in this country. That in and of itself is a form of extreme prejudice and bigotry.”

The ALBRC produce local Public Access Television programs in Dallas and have weekly community news and information shows ALBRC Community Informer, hosted by Mr. Falls.

During the John Mullen Show appearance, Mr. Sneed challenged the Log Cabin Republican leadership to appear with himself and Mr. Falls so that they may debate the issue of the two Republican gay organization's positions: one endorsing the President, the other refusing to endorse.  

The radio program host joined in the challenge and has agreed to contact Patrick Guerriero, Executive Director of the Log Cabin Republicans, and offered his radio program as the forum for a national debate between the two groups.

Mr. Sneed and Mr. Falls have agreed to the debate and say that they stand ready to meet the LCR representatives “any place, any date, any time, as long as it is prior to the election.”

“We respect the rights of all but we do not believe that marriage for gays is right for gays, right for America or right in the eyes of God,” said Falls.  “We are conservative, family-oriented and proud same-gender-loving young black Republicans.

“Our issues are economic development, improving our community infrastructure and reversing the ongoing descent into poverty and hopelessness that we see all around us that is a direct result of 40 years of liberal Democratic social experiments that have created chronic dependency, despair, and the devaluation of our lives as opposed to the freedom, opportunities and resources that we know can make us better -- where does 'marriage for gays fit into this?'" said Falls.

The ALBRC announced on Thursday that due to the overwhelming response and interest generated after delivery Wednesday morning of the “Letter of Endorsement and Support” to the Republican National Committee offices in Washington and an original signed copy, personally hand-delivered by Mr. Sneed to Senator Bill Frist, Republican Senate Majority Leader, that the ALBRC website is scheduled to be online on Monday, September 28.

“Disagreement over the marriage for gays issue is not a legitimate reason for the LCR to withhold endorsing President Bush's re-election,” said Sneed, who is also a member of the LCR.

During his John Mullen Show appearance, Mr. Sneed said: “Marriage for gays is not a civil rights issue. This issue revolves around the protection of the vast amount of wealth accumulated by some members of the gay community and codifying, through judicial mandate and legislative decree, the acceptance of homosexuality.  As gays, our time would be better spent working to find out why God made us as we are – not using the law to force our external and internal public acceptance.”

The ALBRC now awaits a response from the Log Cabin Republicans regarding the debate challenge.