Jul 02, 2004  |  By: PHIL LaPADULA  | COMMENTS     

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Log Cabin Republicans have denounced a constituent letter sent from Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s office that contains anti-gay language and refers to gay rights as “special rights.”

LCR, a gay GOP group, issued a statement last month condemning the letter as “out of step with mainstream Florida families” and calling on Bush to repudiate it.

The letter says Governor Bush “is not in favor of extending ‘special rights’ to the gay and lesbian community.”

“In the past, Governor Bush has voiced his opposition to same-sex marriages, gay and lesbian adoptions and the extension of domestic partner benefits,” the letter says. “Since taking office, the governor’s views on these subjects have not changed. … Gov. Bush believes that the state should not be in the business of actively sanctioning this particular lifestyle.”

The letter is signed by L. O’Connor in the governor’s Office of Citizens’ Services.

Jacob DiPietre, spokesperson for Bush, said the letter reflects Bush’s views on gay issues.

“The governor’s feelings are adequately expressed in the letter,” DiPietre said. “[Bush] does respect the right of individuals to follow their own hearts or choose their own lives within the framework of our society. He does not believe that the state should sanction every choice through legislation to advance particular issues related to any particular subgroup of our citizens.”

DiPietre confirmed that Bush is “opposed to same-sex marriage, gay and lesbian adoptions and domestic partner benefits.”

Meanwhile, some members of the local Broward Log Cabin Republicans say they will not contribute money to the Republican Party this year and will not work to re-elect the governor’s brother, President George W. Bush, because of the letter, said Andy Eddy, communications director for the Broward Log Cabin Republicans.

“What a stupid thing to do,” Eddy said. “To come out with rhetoric like that in an election period doesn’t make any sense at all. This will hurt Republicans nationwide.”

After the letter became public, Eddy said several members of the Broward Log Cabin Republicans called him and said they will not be giving any money to the party this year. He noted that in the past, gay Republicans like the late Richard Fasenmeyer, a local gay businessman, gave thousands to the Republican Party.

Loss of 1 million votes?
Eddy said members are also more reluctant to volunteer this year. It could all translate to a loss of votes for President Bush in November, Eddy said. Exit polls from the 2000 election indicate that Bush received an estimated 1 million gay votes.

Eddy said the letter showed a lack of sensitivity toward the governor’s gay constituents.

“To me as a politician, it would make sense that you would address the sensitivity issue,” Eddy said.

The letter was distributed by the Log Cabin Republicans to the group’s members and was also sent to other gay activists who wrote the governor asking him not to support a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

One of the people who received the letter from Bush’s office was Joe McCallion, a long-time member of the Broward Log Cabin Republicans. McCallion wrote to Bush at the request of LCR, which encouraged its members to contact elected officials asking them not to support the federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The constituent letter was the governor’s reply.

In the past, McCallion said, he and his partner, Jim Rafferty, have been heavy contributors to the Republican Party. McCallion voted for Bush in 2000.

But the letter, coming on the heels of President Bush’s support for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, was the “frosting on the cake” for McCallion. He hasn’t given any money to the Republican Party this year.

‘Absolutely outrageous’
“The letter is absolutely outrageous,” McCallion said. “It sounds like it came directly from the Christian Coalition.”

McCallion said he feels betrayed by both Bushes.

“Jeb Bush came to us with his hat in his hand after he lost his first run for governor [in 1998],” McCallion said. “He assured us that no one in his family would discriminate against the gay community. And he lied. He double-crossed us as far as I’m concerned.”

McCallion said he will not vote for President Bush because of his public support for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Rafferty said he has ruled out voting for Bush as well.

“I will probably sit out the election, or I may vote for Kerry or for the Green Party candidate,” McCallion said. “I’m certainly not going to vote for someone who will institute discrimination against a class of people in the Constitution. So I’m not going to vote for ...