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Is Donald Trump Happy With Log Cabin Endorsement?

DONALD TRUMP

The former president of the D.C. chapter for Log Cabin Republicans doesn't like the support for the president. 

Update: President Donald Trump at a press conference today said he welcomed the endorsement of the Log Cabin Republicans, mentioning the group by name hours after the original version of this story ran. He specifically cited out supporters like PayPal founder Peter Thiel.

" I just got an award and an endorsement yesterday from ... the Log Cabin group, and I was very honored to receive it," Trump said. "I've done very well with that community. Some of my biggest supporters are of that community and I talk to them a lot about it.

"As you know, Peter Thiel, and so many others there, they're with me all the way and they like the job I'm doing."

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The former president of Log Cabin Republicans' D.C. chapter has quit the group over its endorsement of President Trump. Meanwhile, the administration can't seem to utter the LGBTQ caucus's name.

The continuing fallout from the controversial endorsement now includes the exodus of Robert Turner, as reported by the Washington Blade.

"There's no more fight left," Turner wrote in a Facebook post. "The national board's endorsement of Trump, and their subsequent and hollow WaPo op-ed, is a step too far. And this leaves me sad."

Turner has been among the most prominent LGBTQ Republicans in national politics. In addition to serving as president of the D.C. chapter for the Log Cabin Republicans, he was hired in 2013 as executive director of the D.C. Republican Committee. He previously worked in the offices of elected officials including U.S. Reps. George Radanovich of California and Bob Riley of Alabama.

Notably a queer person of color, Turner took some shots at the organization leadership, implying board members may have moved ahead with the endorsement without the support of national executive director Jerri Ann Henry.

"There are many great people still involved with the organization and I hope they press on," Turner wrote. "From Adam [Savit], the current D.C. chapter president, to Jerri Ann, the national executive director, who can't seem to get anything accomplished because of a board of directors who won't get out of her way."

He's not the first member of Log Cabin Republicans to slam the endorsement of a president who has backed policies openly hostile to LGBTQ Americans, such as a trans military ban.

Jordan Evans, the only transgender Republican elected official in the nation, slammed the endorsement in an op-ed in The Advocate.

"It seems that the 'premier Republican organization for LGBTQ+ conservatives' couldn't care less about which form of acceptance qualifies as passable allyship and would instead willfully embrace an administration notorious for hollow words, fairweather friends, and a seemingly endless number of cuts for us to endure," Evans wrote.

Meanwhile, it's hard to find anyone celebrating the endorsement, including Trump himself.

Trump campaign national press secretary Kayleigh McEnany issued a tepid statement to The Washington Examinerabout the Log Cabin Republicans endorsement: "President Trump's policies are working for all Americans, and this is more proof that the American people recognize his successes."

The statement not only failed to mention Log Cabin, but did not include the term LGBTQ (or any similar form) and did not mention any specific policies actually helping LGBTQ Americans.

McEnany gave the statement to writer Brad Polumbo, who slammed what he called an unhinged left-wing reaction to the Log Cabin Republicans endorsement, citing an op-ed by Advocate columnist Amanda Kerri.

Polumbo failed to mention the strong negative reaction from LGBTQ conservatives, particular nonwhite, noncisgender activists.

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