Date: Tue, 15 Mar 1994 08:24:00 EDT From: Song Weaver Subject: Gay Republicans finding success in Utah LOG CABIN NEWS P. O. Box 3493 Salt Lake City, UT 84110-3493 For Immediate Release March 14, 1994 Contact: Frank Lorhmeyer, (801) 461-5086 Chris Ryan, (801) 521-4053 Gay Republican organization finding success in Utah (Salt Lake City)- The Utah Log Cabin Club, a gay and lesbian Republican political organization, announced recently that it's mailing is growing with over 100 names. Recently, ULCC embarked on a major reorganization drive which, when approved by ballots sent out last week, will include raising it's dues to $20 per year and reorganizing into a board of directors led organization. ULCC also sent surveys out to it's members inquiring about their views on gay issues as well as general political issues. "We want to find out that gay and lesbian issues gay Republicans want to tackle in the next two years. We are finding out that many of our members want us to vocal on other issues that affect them. In order to find this out, we sent out surveys that had questions concerning healthcare, crime, public assistance, abortion, and taxes.", said Chris Ryan current president of Utah Log Cabin Club. The gay Republican movement broke major ground in January when Log Cabin Republicans, a political action committee and lobbying office, opened it's doors in Washington, D.C. While autonomous from the Federation of Log Cabin Clubs (the umbrella organization for all Log Cabin Clubs), LCR provides instant political access for gay and lesbian Republicans. Mr. Ryan notes that all it's members are not gay. Many non-gay Republicans see the need for gay Republicans to come out from their invisibility. Many of these people find discrimination in any form deplorable holding on to the idea that what people do in the privacy of their own homes is their own business. Utah Log Cabin Club is also seeing a lot of party crossover. "Many gays and lesbians have told us that they would be willing to support a gay friendly Republican candidate even though they voted Democrat last year.", Mr. Ryan continued. ULCC wants to provide volunteer support, financial support, and most of all delivering the votes for gay friendly Republicans. Most recently, ULCC supported a bill in state legislature that would allow Utahns to treat their life insurance as private property in allowing it to be sold to viatical companies. This measure passed both houses with strong Republican support. For many gay Republicans, the first closet is admitting that you are gay; the second is admitting that you are still Republican.