Log Cabin Releases Initial List of Endorsements for House, Senate

The Log Cabin Republicans announced Tuesday six endorsements for the U.S. House and Senate. The organization endorses the following Republican candidates for reelection: Senators Gordon Smith (Ore.) and Susan Collins (Maine) and Representatives Mary Bono Mack (Calif.), Mark Kirk (Ill.), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Fla.), and Christopher Shays (Conn.).

"We're proud to endorse these six lawmakers for reelection," said Log Cabin president Patrick Sammon. "They're strong allies. and they have excellent records on issues of basic fairness for gay and lesbian Americans. We look forward to helping them win reelection." Sammon called the endorsees "the future of the Republican Party," saying they support a "unifying agenda" and believe that the Republican Party must be "a big tent party" that welcomes everyone.

LCR provided the following information about the records of these GOP congressional members:

Sen. Gordon Smith is one of Log Cabin's strongest allies in the U.S. Senate. He has fought for basic fairness for gay and lesbian Americans, leading the fight in the Senate for hate crimes and HIV/AIDS legislation. Smith cosponsored the Early Treatment for HIV Act and the Matthew Shepard (hate crimes) Act. He has also led the way in fighting for basic fairness in tax legislation, recently introducing the Tax Equity for Domestic Partner and Health Plan Beneficiaries Act and the Domestic Partnership Benefits & Obligations Act.

Sen. Susan Collins is a strong supporter of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and is a cosponsor of the Matthew Shepard Act. Collins opposed the anti-family Federal Marriage Amendment and has also been a leader in the Senate on HIV/AIDS funding. Recently, Collins pressed Joint Chiefs chairman Adm. Michael Mullen on the harmful "don't ask, don't tell" law. During a Senate hearing, Collins expressed growing concern that the loss of gay service members under the law is harming our nation's security.

Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack opposed the anti-family Federal Marriage Amendment. She also voted for the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Plus, she's a leading congressional advocate for sound HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention policies. She's a cosponsor of the Early Treatment for HIV Act and led efforts in the House to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act.

Congressman Mark Kirk voted against the anti-family Federal Marriage Amendment. He is the lead Republican cosponsor of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Hate Crimes Prevention Act and supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is a cosponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act and has provided a powerful conservative voice in the fight to end the discriminatory "don't ask, don't tell" law. She voted against the anti-family Federal Marriage Amendment. She also supports the hate crimes bill, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and the Early Treatment for HIV Act. Most recently, Ros-Lehtinen has spoken out forcefully against human rights violations of LGBT citizens abroad, particularly in radical Islamic regimes. She has also urged fair treatment of gay and lesbian employees of the U.S. State Department.

Congressman Christopher Shays is the lead Republican cosponsor of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. He is also a strong supporter of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act and a cosponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. He voted against the anti-family Federal Marriage Amendment and is a strong supporter of sound HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention policies. (The Advocate)