I found it an interesting (and delightful) synchronicity that on the same evening that I was rejoining Log Cabin, across the country, Log Cabin was holding Tribute to Patrick Guerriero, the very man whose departure (from the helm of the organization) I awaitied before rejoining.

And while I have been critical of many aspects of Patrick’s leadership, I want to make clear that, while I’m glad he’s leaving Log Cabin, I recognize that he made some significant accomplishments, many of which I would not have appreciated had I not served as a club president under his predecessor.

When I spoke with club presidents last year at the organization’s New Orleans convention (as at other times over the past few years), I found that to an individual, they thought he was doing a good job — even when they disagreed with him. They related he reached out to them, returned their phone calls, listened to them and responded to their concerns. A clear contrast from conversations with my fellow club presidents in the late 1990s.

Not only was he good with the grass-roots leaders of Log Cabin, he also had warm and friendly in person with people not affiliated with Log Cabin, even its critics. The day I met him in New Orleans was the very day this blog had broken the story of a lawsuit against him. Even so, as I wrote in one of my reports on the convention:

. . . when he heard my name, he knew who I was — and still greeted me warmly. He did not fault (or otherwise show any disregard for) me. I was impressed how he maintained his cool while talking to someone who has frequently criticized his leadership. He came across as a genuinely nice guy who seemed to take criticism in stride.

Unfortunately, while he could weather criticism from conservative bloggers, he seemed to be doing everything in his power to avoid generating any criticism from national gay organizations. It may well have been that he wanted to mend fences, given the history of bad blood between those groups and his predecessor.

Now that Patrick Guerriero has left Log Cabin, his successor needs to find a way to maintain cordial relationships with those groups, working with them on issues of common concern, but not hesitating to criticize them when they attack the GOP and take left-wing stands.

(more…)

As most of you by now know, the Garden State’s Supreme Court has given state lawmakers “180 days to rewrite” state laws to give gay people “marriage or something like it, such as civil unions.“

In his post earlier, Robbie (whom, some have suggested, I would marry if we lived in the Bay State) pretty somewhat summarized my initial thoughts. Offering a different take than his co-blogger, Robbie was “not pleased” with the court’s decision, disliking “it when a court tells a legislature which laws it has to pass.“

That said, I am delighted that the New Jersey legislature will be addressing state recognition of same-sex unions. I would rather that this had come about as it had in Connecticut rather than by judicial mandate.

On the one hand, I’m pleased that the legislature will be dealing with the issue. On the other hand, I don’t think courts should mandate which issues state legislatures put on their calendars. It seems a clear violation of the separation of powers.

Finally, because a court has mandated this, it strengthens the hand of those supporting state referenda defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Whenever one state court mandates gay marriage, it leads to a backlash against gay marriage in other states. While this ruling may be good for same-sex couples in the Garden State, I fear this may hurt same-sex couples in other states.

- B. Daniel Blatt (GayPatriotWest@aol.com)

UPDATE: It seems James Taranto at “Best of the Web” is sympathetic to my argument: “we’d also be happier if this were thrashed over democratically rather than forced upon society by the courts.” Read his piece on the decision for a thoughtful conservative reflection on gay marriage and civil unions.

The Guardian of London reports that the British Gay Police Association recently aired an “advert” (as they call it there) laying violence against gays and lesbians at the foot of Christians.

Yea, like those Christians who murdered Theo Van Gogh, and all those stonings of homosexuals they hold down there at the Vatican, right?

London is lately being overrun by Muslims who refuse to assimilate into Western culture. And the Brits (along with most of Europe) refuse to demand it. At their peril.

Of course, it’s easy (and in vogue) to bash Christians. Is the British Gay Police Association afraid to admit that Islam is more violent toward homosexuality and homosexuals? Or do they even “realise” it? Oh wait, don’t answer…either way, it’s a shame.

-Nick (ColoradoPatriot)

A great new David Zucker ad hammering the Democrats on taxes.   Does anyone know if these ads are actually running on television somewhere?   This man is my hero!

While we are on the subject, I’m not sure we can afford 3,000 more dead Americans to sacrifice for the Democrats to control Congress either.   But hey, that’s just me talking in a time of war — a war one American political party refuses to fight.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

Speculation is rampant that retiring NJ Supreme Court Chief Justice Deborah Poritz will deliver a pre-Election day present to the GOP New Jersey’s gays and lesbians by issuing an order instituting court-mandated gay marriage to the Garden State.

Keep your eye on this website at 3pm today.

But “The Pot” (at The Pot and The Kettle) says not so fast!  Rumors around Trenton say Poritz ain’t got the votes.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

This is a reprint of an email that I sent last evening to Patrick Sammon, Executive VP at Log Cabin Republicans (and Man In Charge there right now)….

Patrick-

It would be nice — just for a change, and perhaps to humor me — that the organization that supposedly represents me as a gay Republican would forcefully take on the Human Rights Campaign for their disgusting role in the Congressional scandal that has created such a bad environment for gay Americans.

First, there are undisputed HRC ties to the attempts to forcibly “out” gay Republicans on Capitol Hill. (http://gaypatriot.net/2006/10/05/human-rights-campaign-involved-in-gay-gop-witchhunt)

And now there is clear evidence that someone at HRC was sitting on the Mark Foley emails and potentially putting children at risk just for political gain.

(http://gaypatriot.net/2006/10/24/solmonese-must-address-evidence-hrc-is-behind-bogus-blog)

Please help Log Cabin finally grow a backbone and stand up against the slimy anti-American political tactics of the Gay Left! This is your Sister Soulja moment, Patrick!

Log Cabin Republicans cannot stay loyal to the HRC when they are clearly stabbing their own membership in the back for the sin of merely having differing political and moral beliefs than the HRC board.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)