Washington Blade - October 8, 2004
Joe Crea, jcrea@washblade.com.

Don Sneed, co-founder of the Dallas-based Abe Lincoln Black Republican Caucus, claims there are 80 black gay Republicans in the Dallas area in his organization. He said that while his group is opposed to a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, Log Cabin should have exercised "wisdom" by endorsing the president with a caveat: "We agree with you on many issues, but we don't support your call for a marriage amendment."

"It is very unwise for LCR to take that stance," said Sneed, who is a member of Log Cabin and the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, known as PACHA.

"We need access and entry into these halls of power. I can't think that LCR took that into account. If Bush wins, why should anyone in this administration ever respond to LCR's phone calls? That's not the way it works in this country. We realize that, and that's why we support the president."

Last month, Log Cabin, a nationwide group of gay Republicans, ended nearly six months of speculation and announced it would not endorse President Bush in large part because of the president's strong support for the constitutional amendment.

Sneed also challenged Log Cabin to debate the merits of its non-endorsement.

Chris Barron, Log Cabin's political director, said his group will not accept the black group's invitation to a debate and stood by the decision not to endorse the president.

"LCR made a decision based on the totality of the president's entire record," Barron said. "It was a 24-2 vote of our national board. That decision is consistent with our core mission which is to expand equality for gays and lesbians in the Republican Party and we stand by that decision."

'The way God made us'

Sneed said his group, which is comprised of black gay Republicans between 17-30 years of age, is opposed to gay marriage because "the way God made us, ... marriage is an institution that should remain between a man and a woman."

"It all revolves around procreation and the human race," Sneed said. "Marriage is the cornerstone of civilization as we know it. Plus, there are a lot of other issues that take priority over marriage today."

Some of those other concerns, Sneed said, specifically address the political issues and needs of young, black, gay Republicans. The group is primarily concerned with economic development and HIV/AIDS issues, which are in dire need of attention because of 40 years of liberal social policy, he added.

"Dependency and social irresponsibility are not good for us," Sneed said. "It is time for black gays and lesbians to step up to the plate, politically, socially and economically."

While the group supports gay and lesbian couples having all the legal rights that heterosexual couples are accorded, Sneed said that goal should be achieved through civil unions and domestic partnerships, not marriage.

When asked if gays who support President Bush were casting a vote for a leader who is undermining advances in gay rights, Sneed denied the charge and said gays are their "own worst enemy."

"If we are undermined, it's because we are undermining ourselves," Sneed said. "We don't stand up to be counted nor do we have a willingness to compromise when there's a need to compromise.

"When I look at the [black] civil rights movement, ... that was a battle that took place over time. You don't get everything you initially want. You continue to fight the good fight and eventually things do change. We undermine ourselves when we fly in the face of history."

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