Guerrero to Leave Log Cabin
Guerrero to Leave Log Cabin
By Louis Weisberg
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
Patrick Guerriero, who led Log Cabin Republicans through four years of record growth despite the GOP’s accelerating attacks on GLBT rights, is leaving the organization.
LCR announced May 23 that Guerriero is stepping down to become the first-ever executive director of the Gill Action Fund. Established in December 2005 by Quark Inc. founder Tim Gill, the fund is a political nonprofit group that fights constitutional amendments barring gay marriage and supports pro-gay political candidates at all levels of government.
Under Guerriero’s leadership, LCR opened dozens of new chapters, expanded its membership by the thousands and increased its annual budget by 400 percent. The role of women in LCR also increased during Guerriero’s tenure. Six women have been elected to serve on the national board of directors since 2002.
In addition, Guerriero oversaw several major projects for the organization, including an the nation’s first television ad opposing the Federal Marriage Amendment, a lawsuit against “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and the filing of LCR’s first amicus brief—in the landmark Lawrence v Texas Supreme Court case.
“Guerriero’s leadership has put Log Cabin Republicans on the frontlines of the fight for the future of the GOP and the gay equality movement,” LCR said in a statement announcing his Sept. 1 departure. “Weeks ago, at Log Cabin’s largest-ever national convention, former U.S. Sen. John Danforth (R-Mo.) said that a growing Log Cabin organization ‘can be the heart of a movement to reclaim our Republican Party from where it has gone now.’”
“We will miss him greatly, but we wish him the best of luck and we look forward to working with him as executive director of Gill Action,” said Log Cabin chairman Tim Schoeffler.
“It has been a humbling experience leading Log Cabin Republicans during the past four years,” said Guerriero. “I’m proud of what thousands of courageous Log Cabin members across America have accomplished as we work to build an inclusive Republican Party and a better America.”
On his first day as Log Cabin President, Guerriero called for an end to the infighting between GLBT organizations and promised Log Cabin’s full commitment to the bipartisan work necessary for winning basic fairness and equality for all Americans. Guerriero’s promise led to unprecedented collaboration and dialogue with allied groups.
“(Patrick) has been among the most principled leaders of our movement for equality,” said former HRC executive director Elizabeth Birch. “Patrick is a good person of good character and does not ever take the easy road. He takes the heat but stays the course.”
Guerriero is a former Massachusetts state representative and mayor of Melrose, Mass., a Boston suburb. He stepped down as mayor to become deputy chief of staff to Gov. Jane Swift, who selected him as her running mate in 2002—making him the nation’s first openly gay candidate for lieutenant governor.
By Louis Weisberg
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
Patrick Guerriero, who led Log Cabin Republicans through four years of record growth despite the GOP’s accelerating attacks on GLBT rights, is leaving the organization.
LCR announced May 23 that Guerriero is stepping down to become the first-ever executive director of the Gill Action Fund. Established in December 2005 by Quark Inc. founder Tim Gill, the fund is a political nonprofit group that fights constitutional amendments barring gay marriage and supports pro-gay political candidates at all levels of government.
Under Guerriero’s leadership, LCR opened dozens of new chapters, expanded its membership by the thousands and increased its annual budget by 400 percent. The role of women in LCR also increased during Guerriero’s tenure. Six women have been elected to serve on the national board of directors since 2002.
In addition, Guerriero oversaw several major projects for the organization, including an the nation’s first television ad opposing the Federal Marriage Amendment, a lawsuit against “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and the filing of LCR’s first amicus brief—in the landmark Lawrence v Texas Supreme Court case.
“Guerriero’s leadership has put Log Cabin Republicans on the frontlines of the fight for the future of the GOP and the gay equality movement,” LCR said in a statement announcing his Sept. 1 departure. “Weeks ago, at Log Cabin’s largest-ever national convention, former U.S. Sen. John Danforth (R-Mo.) said that a growing Log Cabin organization ‘can be the heart of a movement to reclaim our Republican Party from where it has gone now.’”
“We will miss him greatly, but we wish him the best of luck and we look forward to working with him as executive director of Gill Action,” said Log Cabin chairman Tim Schoeffler.
“It has been a humbling experience leading Log Cabin Republicans during the past four years,” said Guerriero. “I’m proud of what thousands of courageous Log Cabin members across America have accomplished as we work to build an inclusive Republican Party and a better America.”
On his first day as Log Cabin President, Guerriero called for an end to the infighting between GLBT organizations and promised Log Cabin’s full commitment to the bipartisan work necessary for winning basic fairness and equality for all Americans. Guerriero’s promise led to unprecedented collaboration and dialogue with allied groups.
“(Patrick) has been among the most principled leaders of our movement for equality,” said former HRC executive director Elizabeth Birch. “Patrick is a good person of good character and does not ever take the easy road. He takes the heat but stays the course.”
Guerriero is a former Massachusetts state representative and mayor of Melrose, Mass., a Boston suburb. He stepped down as mayor to become deputy chief of staff to Gov. Jane Swift, who selected him as her running mate in 2002—making him the nation’s first openly gay candidate for lieutenant governor.
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