think there needs to be, in the gay community, robust and bipartisan support
[for] marriage rights."
Ed Gillespie, a former RNC chairman and long-time friend of Mehlman, said that
"it is significant that a former chairman of the Republiucan National Committe is
openly gay and that he is supportive of gay marriage." Although Gillespie himself
opposes gay marriage, he pointed to party stalwarts like former Vice President
Dick Cheney and strategist Mary Matalin as open advocates for gay rights who
had not been drummed out of the party. He acknowledged "big generational
differences in perception when it comes to gay marriage and gay rights as an
agenda, and I think that is true on the Republican side."
But, Gillespie said, he does not envision the party platform changing anytime
soon.
"There are a lot of Republicans who are gay, there are a lot of Republicans who
support government sanction of gay marriage, a lot of Republicans who support
abortion on demand, a lot of Republicans who support cap-and-trade
provisions. They're not single-issue voters." Gillespie acknowledged that the
party had been inhospitable to gays in the past, and said that he hopes
Mehlman's decision to come out leads the party to be "more respectful and civil
in our discourse" when it comes to gays.
Mehlman said that his formal coming-out process began earlier this year. Over
the past several weeks, he has notified former colleagues, including former
President Bush. Once he realized that the news would probably leak, he
assembled a team of former advisers to help him figure out the best way to
harness the publicity generated by the disclosure for the cause of marriage
rights. He is worried that some will see his decision to go public as opportunistic.
Mehlman recently moved to Chelsea, a gay mecca in New York City. He refused
to discuss his personal life with me, and he plans to give only a few print
interviews on the subject.
[for] marriage rights."
Ed Gillespie, a former RNC chairman and long-time friend of Mehlman, said that
"it is significant that a former chairman of the Republiucan National Committe is
openly gay and that he is supportive of gay marriage." Although Gillespie himself
opposes gay marriage, he pointed to party stalwarts like former Vice President
Dick Cheney and strategist Mary Matalin as open advocates for gay rights who
had not been drummed out of the party. He acknowledged "big generational
differences in perception when it comes to gay marriage and gay rights as an
agenda, and I think that is true on the Republican side."
But, Gillespie said, he does not envision the party platform changing anytime
soon.
"There are a lot of Republicans who are gay, there are a lot of Republicans who
support government sanction of gay marriage, a lot of Republicans who support
abortion on demand, a lot of Republicans who support cap-and-trade
provisions. They're not single-issue voters." Gillespie acknowledged that the
party had been inhospitable to gays in the past, and said that he hopes
Mehlman's decision to come out leads the party to be "more respectful and civil
in our discourse" when it comes to gays.
Mehlman said that his formal coming-out process began earlier this year. Over
the past several weeks, he has notified former colleagues, including former
President Bush. Once he realized that the news would probably leak, he
assembled a team of former advisers to help him figure out the best way to
harness the publicity generated by the disclosure for the cause of marriage
rights. He is worried that some will see his decision to go public as opportunistic.
Mehlman recently moved to Chelsea, a gay mecca in New York City. He refused
to discuss his personal life with me, and he plans to give only a few print
interviews on the subject.
| . |
| . |
Mehlman's leadership positions in the GOP came at a time when the party was
stepping up its anti-gay activities -- such as the distribution in West Virginia in
2006 of literature linking homosexuality to atheism, or the less-than-subtle,
coded language in the party's platform ("Attempts to redefine marriage in a
single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country...").
Mehlman said at the time that he could not, as an individual Republican, go
against the party consensus. He was aware that Karl Rove, President Bush's chief
strategic adviser, had been working with Republicans to make sure that
anti-gay initiatives and referenda would appear on November ballots in 2004
and 2006 to help Republicans.
Mehlman acknowledges that if he had publicly declared his
sexuality sooner, he might have played a role in keeping the
party from pushing an anti-gay agenda.
"It's a legitimate question and one I understand," Mehlman said. "I can't change
the fact that I wasn't in this place personally when I was in politics, and I
genuinely regret that. It was very hard, personally." He asks of those who doubt
his sincerity: "If they can't offer support, at least offer understanding."
"What I do regret, and think a lot about, is that one of the things I talked a lot
about in politics was how I tried to expand the party into neighborhoods where
the message wasn't always heard. I didn't do this in the gay community at all."
He said that he "really wished" he had come to terms with his sexual orientation
earlier, "so I could have worked against [the Federal Marriage Amendment]"
and "reached out to the gay community in the way I reached out to African
Americans."
Mehlman is aware that his attempts to justify his past silence will not be
adequate for many people. He and his friends say that he is aware that he will no
longer control the story about his identity -- which will simultaneously expose old
stepping up its anti-gay activities -- such as the distribution in West Virginia in
2006 of literature linking homosexuality to atheism, or the less-than-subtle,
coded language in the party's platform ("Attempts to redefine marriage in a
single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country...").
Mehlman said at the time that he could not, as an individual Republican, go
against the party consensus. He was aware that Karl Rove, President Bush's chief
strategic adviser, had been working with Republicans to make sure that
anti-gay initiatives and referenda would appear on November ballots in 2004
and 2006 to help Republicans.
Mehlman acknowledges that if he had publicly declared his
sexuality sooner, he might have played a role in keeping the
party from pushing an anti-gay agenda.
"It's a legitimate question and one I understand," Mehlman said. "I can't change
the fact that I wasn't in this place personally when I was in politics, and I
genuinely regret that. It was very hard, personally." He asks of those who doubt
his sincerity: "If they can't offer support, at least offer understanding."
"What I do regret, and think a lot about, is that one of the things I talked a lot
about in politics was how I tried to expand the party into neighborhoods where
the message wasn't always heard. I didn't do this in the gay community at all."
He said that he "really wished" he had come to terms with his sexual orientation
earlier, "so I could have worked against [the Federal Marriage Amendment]"
and "reached out to the gay community in the way I reached out to African
Americans."
Mehlman is aware that his attempts to justify his past silence will not be
adequate for many people. He and his friends say that he is aware that he will no
longer control the story about his identity -- which will simultaneously expose old
| . |
| . |
www.ambiente.us AUGUST |AGOSTO 2010
Bush Campaign Chief and Former RNC Chair Ken Mehlman |
I'm Gay
By Marc Ambinder
Ken Mehlman, President Bush's campaign manager in 2004 and a former
chairman of the Republican National Committee, has told family and associates
that he is gay.
Mehlman arrived at this conclusion about his identity fairly recently, he said in an
interview. He agreed to answer a reporter's questions, he said, because, now in
private life, he wants to become an advocate for gay marriage and
anticipated that questions would arise about his participation in a
late-September fundraiser for the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER),
the group that supported the legal challenge to California's ballot initiative
against gay marriage, Proposition 8.
"It's taken me 43 years to get comfortable with this part of my life," said
Mehlman, now an executive vice-president with the New York City-based
private equity firm, KKR. "Everybody has their own path to travel, their own
journey, and for me, over the past few months, I've told my family, friends, former
colleagues, and current colleagues, and they've been wonderful and
supportive. The process has been something that's made me a happier and
better person. It's something I wish I had done years ago."
Privately, in off-the-record conversations with this reporter over the years,
Bush Campaign Chief and Former RNC Chair Ken Mehlman |
I'm Gay
By Marc Ambinder
Ken Mehlman, President Bush's campaign manager in 2004 and a former
chairman of the Republican National Committee, has told family and associates
that he is gay.
Mehlman arrived at this conclusion about his identity fairly recently, he said in an
interview. He agreed to answer a reporter's questions, he said, because, now in
private life, he wants to become an advocate for gay marriage and
anticipated that questions would arise about his participation in a
late-September fundraiser for the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER),
the group that supported the legal challenge to California's ballot initiative
against gay marriage, Proposition 8.
"It's taken me 43 years to get comfortable with this part of my life," said
Mehlman, now an executive vice-president with the New York City-based
private equity firm, KKR. "Everybody has their own path to travel, their own
journey, and for me, over the past few months, I've told my family, friends, former
colleagues, and current colleagues, and they've been wonderful and
supportive. The process has been something that's made me a happier and
better person. It's something I wish I had done years ago."
Privately, in off-the-record conversations with this reporter over the years,
| . |
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wounds, invite Schadenfruede, and legitimize anger among gay rights activists
in both parties who did not hide their sexual orientations.
Mehlman, who has never married, long found his sexuality subject to rumor and
innuendo. He was the subject of an outing campaign by gay rights activist Mike
Rogers, starting when Mehlman was Bush's campaign manager. Rogers's
crusades against closeted gay Republicans split the organized gay lobby in
Washington but were undoubtedly effective: he drove several elected officials,
including Virginia Rep. Ed Shrock, from office, pushed out a would-be
presidential campaign manager for George Allen well before Allen was set to
run, slung rumors about Sen. Larry Craig's sexual orientation well before Craig's
incident in a Minneapolis airport bathroom, and even managed to make
homosexuality a wedge issue within the party's activist circles.
In 2006, Rogers caught up to Mehlman and asked him why he gave "so many
confusing answers to social conservatives about your homosexuality," and
followed up by asking whether Mehlman knew of a man who Rogers had
claimed was Mehlman's secret partner. Mehlman denied to Rogers that he had
given conflicting answers and said that the man in question was a law school
classmate.
In several discussions I've had with Mehlman since he stepped down from the
Republican National Committee in 2007, he never volunteered information
about his sexual orientation, although charges that he presided over a
resurgence in anti-gay sentiment were clearly an ongoing burden to him.
The disclosure at this stage of Mehlman's life strikes one close friend as being like
a decision to jump off of a high diving board: Mehlman knows that there is
plenty of water below, but it is still very scary to look down and make the leap.
Mehlman likes order and certainty, and he knows that the reaction to his public
confirmation cannot be predicted or contained.
in both parties who did not hide their sexual orientations.
Mehlman, who has never married, long found his sexuality subject to rumor and
innuendo. He was the subject of an outing campaign by gay rights activist Mike
Rogers, starting when Mehlman was Bush's campaign manager. Rogers's
crusades against closeted gay Republicans split the organized gay lobby in
Washington but were undoubtedly effective: he drove several elected officials,
including Virginia Rep. Ed Shrock, from office, pushed out a would-be
presidential campaign manager for George Allen well before Allen was set to
run, slung rumors about Sen. Larry Craig's sexual orientation well before Craig's
incident in a Minneapolis airport bathroom, and even managed to make
homosexuality a wedge issue within the party's activist circles.
In 2006, Rogers caught up to Mehlman and asked him why he gave "so many
confusing answers to social conservatives about your homosexuality," and
followed up by asking whether Mehlman knew of a man who Rogers had
claimed was Mehlman's secret partner. Mehlman denied to Rogers that he had
given conflicting answers and said that the man in question was a law school
classmate.
In several discussions I've had with Mehlman since he stepped down from the
Republican National Committee in 2007, he never volunteered information
about his sexual orientation, although charges that he presided over a
resurgence in anti-gay sentiment were clearly an ongoing burden to him.
The disclosure at this stage of Mehlman's life strikes one close friend as being like
a decision to jump off of a high diving board: Mehlman knows that there is
plenty of water below, but it is still very scary to look down and make the leap.
Mehlman likes order and certainty, and he knows that the reaction to his public
confirmation cannot be predicted or contained.
| . |
Mehlman voiced support for civil unions and told of how, in private discussions with senior
Republican officials, he beat back efforts to attack same-sex marriage. He insisted, too,
that President Bush "was no homophobe." He often wondered why gay voters never
formed common cause with Republican opponents of Islamic jihad, which he called "the
greatest anti-gay force in the world right now."
Republican officials, he beat back efforts to attack same-sex marriage. He insisted, too,
that President Bush "was no homophobe." He often wondered why gay voters never
formed common cause with Republican opponents of Islamic jihad, which he called "the
greatest anti-gay force in the world right now."
Mehlman is the most powerful Republican in history to identify as gay.
Because his tenure as RNC chairman and his time at the center of the Bush
political machine coincided with the Republican Party's attempts to exploit
anti-gay prejudices and cement the allegiance of social conservatives, his
declaration to the world is at once a personal act and an act of political
speech.
"I wish I was where I am today 20 years ago. The process of not being able to say
who I am in public life was very difficult. No one else knew this except me. My
family didn't know. My friends didn't know. Anyone who watched me knew I was
a guy who was clearly uncomfortable with the topic," he said.
During the Rogers crusades, many news organizations made attempts to confirm
rumors and stories about Mehlman's sexuality. Republicans close to Mehlman
either said they did not know, or that it did not matter, or that the question was
offensive.
Mehlman once joked in public that although he was not gay, the rumors put a
crimp on his social life. He admits to having misled several people who asked
him directly.
He said that he plans to be an advocate for gay rights within the GOP, that he
remains proud to be a Republican, and that his political identity is not defined
by any one issue.
"What I will try to do is to persuade people, when I have conversations with
them, that it is consistent with our party's philosophy, whether it's the principle of
individual freedom, or limited government, or encouraging adults who love
each other and who want to make a lifelong committment to each other to get
married."
"I hope that we, as a party, would welcome gay and lesbian supporters. I also
Because his tenure as RNC chairman and his time at the center of the Bush
political machine coincided with the Republican Party's attempts to exploit
anti-gay prejudices and cement the allegiance of social conservatives, his
declaration to the world is at once a personal act and an act of political
speech.
"I wish I was where I am today 20 years ago. The process of not being able to say
who I am in public life was very difficult. No one else knew this except me. My
family didn't know. My friends didn't know. Anyone who watched me knew I was
a guy who was clearly uncomfortable with the topic," he said.
During the Rogers crusades, many news organizations made attempts to confirm
rumors and stories about Mehlman's sexuality. Republicans close to Mehlman
either said they did not know, or that it did not matter, or that the question was
offensive.
Mehlman once joked in public that although he was not gay, the rumors put a
crimp on his social life. He admits to having misled several people who asked
him directly.
He said that he plans to be an advocate for gay rights within the GOP, that he
remains proud to be a Republican, and that his political identity is not defined
by any one issue.
"What I will try to do is to persuade people, when I have conversations with
them, that it is consistent with our party's philosophy, whether it's the principle of
individual freedom, or limited government, or encouraging adults who love
each other and who want to make a lifelong committment to each other to get
married."
"I hope that we, as a party, would welcome gay and lesbian supporters. I also
| . |
Chad Griffin, the California-based political strategist who organized opposition
to Proposition 8, said that Mehlman's quiet contributions to the American
Foundation for Equal Rights are "tremendous," adding that "when we achieve
equal equality, he will be one of the people to thank for it." Mehlman has
become a de facto strategist for the group, and he has opened up his rolodex --
recruiting, as co-hosts for the AFER fundraiser: Paul Singer, a major Republican
donor, hedge fund executive, and the president of the Manhattan Institute;
Benjamin Ginsberg, one of the GOP's top lawyers; Michael Toner, a former
chairman of the Federal Election Commission; and two former GOP governors,
William Weld of Massachusetts and Christie Todd Whitman of New Jersey.
Dustin Lance Black, the Academy Award winning writer of "Milk," said, "Ken
represents an incredible coup for the American Foundation for Equal Rights. We
believe that our mission of equal rights under the law is one that should resonate
with every American. As a victorious former presidential campaign manager
and head of the Republican Party, Ken has the proven experience and expertise
to help us communicate with people across each of the 50 states."
Copyright © The Atlantic & AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
to Proposition 8, said that Mehlman's quiet contributions to the American
Foundation for Equal Rights are "tremendous," adding that "when we achieve
equal equality, he will be one of the people to thank for it." Mehlman has
become a de facto strategist for the group, and he has opened up his rolodex --
recruiting, as co-hosts for the AFER fundraiser: Paul Singer, a major Republican
donor, hedge fund executive, and the president of the Manhattan Institute;
Benjamin Ginsberg, one of the GOP's top lawyers; Michael Toner, a former
chairman of the Federal Election Commission; and two former GOP governors,
William Weld of Massachusetts and Christie Todd Whitman of New Jersey.
Dustin Lance Black, the Academy Award winning writer of "Milk," said, "Ken
represents an incredible coup for the American Foundation for Equal Rights. We
believe that our mission of equal rights under the law is one that should resonate
with every American. As a victorious former presidential campaign manager
and head of the Republican Party, Ken has the proven experience and expertise
to help us communicate with people across each of the 50 states."
Copyright © The Atlantic & AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
| . |
Asesor de Bush sale del closet
Por Carlos Fresneda
Ken Mehlman
“Soy gay”, ha admitido públicamente Ken Mehlman, ex presidente del Comité
Nacional del Partido Republicano (RNC) y ex jefe de campaña para la
reelección de George W. Bush en el 2004.
La confesión de Mehlman –en una entrevista concedida a The Atlantic- ha
creado una conmoción entre los conservadores, en pleno relanzamiento de la
campaña contra los matrimonios entre homosexuales en California y otros
estados.
“He tardado 43 años en sentirme cómodo con esta parte de mi vida”, admite
Mehlman a estas alturas. “Todo el mundo tiene que seguir su propio camino, y
así ha sido para mí en los últimos meses.
Se lo he dicho a mi familia, a mis amigos y a mis antiguos colegas, y la reacción
ha sido maravillosa y de total apoyo. Este proceso ha sido algo que me ha
hecho más feliz y mejo persona. Tendría que haberlo hecho hace años”.
El ex dirigente republicano reconoce que se arrepiente de no haber salido del
armario a tiempo para contrarrestar los esfuerzos del Partido Republicano
contra los matrimonios gays. Mehlman estuvo al frente del RNC entre el 2005 y
el 2007, precisamente cuando arreció la campaña conservadora contra las
uniones entre homosexuales, orquestada principalmente por el asesor de Bush
Karl Rove para ganar el apoyo de la derecha cristiana.
“Bush no es homófobo”, llegó a decir Mehlman en defensa del entonces
presidente, cuando el tema empezó a calentarse. A estas alturas reconoce que
fue “muy duro personalmente” tener que callar ante un asunto que le tocaba
muy de cerca. Ocasionalmente, ‘off the record’, manifestó sin embargo a varios
Por Carlos Fresneda
Ken Mehlman
“Soy gay”, ha admitido públicamente Ken Mehlman, ex presidente del Comité
Nacional del Partido Republicano (RNC) y ex jefe de campaña para la
reelección de George W. Bush en el 2004.
La confesión de Mehlman –en una entrevista concedida a The Atlantic- ha
creado una conmoción entre los conservadores, en pleno relanzamiento de la
campaña contra los matrimonios entre homosexuales en California y otros
estados.
“He tardado 43 años en sentirme cómodo con esta parte de mi vida”, admite
Mehlman a estas alturas. “Todo el mundo tiene que seguir su propio camino, y
así ha sido para mí en los últimos meses.
Se lo he dicho a mi familia, a mis amigos y a mis antiguos colegas, y la reacción
ha sido maravillosa y de total apoyo. Este proceso ha sido algo que me ha
hecho más feliz y mejo persona. Tendría que haberlo hecho hace años”.
El ex dirigente republicano reconoce que se arrepiente de no haber salido del
armario a tiempo para contrarrestar los esfuerzos del Partido Republicano
contra los matrimonios gays. Mehlman estuvo al frente del RNC entre el 2005 y
el 2007, precisamente cuando arreció la campaña conservadora contra las
uniones entre homosexuales, orquestada principalmente por el asesor de Bush
Karl Rove para ganar el apoyo de la derecha cristiana.
“Bush no es homófobo”, llegó a decir Mehlman en defensa del entonces
presidente, cuando el tema empezó a calentarse. A estas alturas reconoce que
fue “muy duro personalmente” tener que callar ante un asunto que le tocaba
muy de cerca. Ocasionalmente, ‘off the record’, manifestó sin embargo a varios
| . |
periodistas su desacuerdo con la postura oficial republicana.
“Si hubiera decidido revelar antes mi orientación sexual, posiblemente habría
trabajado contra la enmienda constitucional para prohibir los matrimonios
gays”, revela Mehlman. “También habría intentado extender el alcance del
Partido Republicano entre la comunidad homosexual, de la misma manera que
lo hicimos entre los votantes afroamericanos”.
Mehlman, que trabaja actualmente para la firma financiera KKR en Nueva York,
promete trabajar a partir de ahora a favor de los matrimonios gays dentro y
fuera del Partido Republicano. De momento ya ha anunciado su presencia en
septiembre a un acto organizado por la American Foundarion for Equal Rights
(AFER), el grupo que llevó a los tribunales el referendum de California contra los
matrimonios gays.
La única reacción hasta ahora en el Partido Republicano ha sido la de Ed
Gillespie, también ex presidente de RNC. Gillespie ha destacado como
“significativo” el paso adelante de su amigo y correligionario Mehlman, aunque
no ha servido para hacerle cambiar de opinión: “Sigo siendo contrario a los
matrimonios gays”.
Copyright © Tucson El Mundo & AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
“Si hubiera decidido revelar antes mi orientación sexual, posiblemente habría
trabajado contra la enmienda constitucional para prohibir los matrimonios
gays”, revela Mehlman. “También habría intentado extender el alcance del
Partido Republicano entre la comunidad homosexual, de la misma manera que
lo hicimos entre los votantes afroamericanos”.
Mehlman, que trabaja actualmente para la firma financiera KKR en Nueva York,
promete trabajar a partir de ahora a favor de los matrimonios gays dentro y
fuera del Partido Republicano. De momento ya ha anunciado su presencia en
septiembre a un acto organizado por la American Foundarion for Equal Rights
(AFER), el grupo que llevó a los tribunales el referendum de California contra los
matrimonios gays.
La única reacción hasta ahora en el Partido Republicano ha sido la de Ed
Gillespie, también ex presidente de RNC. Gillespie ha destacado como
“significativo” el paso adelante de su amigo y correligionario Mehlman, aunque
no ha servido para hacerle cambiar de opinión: “Sigo siendo contrario a los
matrimonios gays”.
Copyright © Tucson El Mundo & AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
| . |