A Republican group was refused enterance to a major conservative conference apparently because the group supports gay rights.
The Log Cabin Republicans’ rescinded invitation to the Western Conservative Summit (WCS) was because, organizers said, “the Summit has a biblical position opposite to theirs that we’re duty bound to uphold.”
The move has incited criticism from both the Log Cabin Republicans and activists from across the political spectrum.
“Apparently a low-tax, pro-energy, pro-business, pro-freedom agenda is not welcomed by the Western Conservative Summit if civil marriage equality is any part of an organization’s policy,” the group wrote in a Facebook post, which appears to have since been deleted.
The summit’s organizers responded likewise.
“The Log Cabin Republicans were never specifically invited to be a Summit exhibitor, rather they applied and paid online, subject to CCU’s final approval,” John Andrews of the Centennial Institute, which runs the WCS, wrote. “When we politely declined such organizational recognition and affirmed they are welcome to attend as individuals, they chose to make a news story of it.”
Andrews insists, however, that the summit would still welcome the members of the group as individuals—but as a political organization at a political event, they won’t be welcomed in the same way that Democrats are not. From Centennial Institute’s Facebook post:
“We’ve been asked who’s welcome at Western Conservative Summit 2015. The answer: everyone! Come one, come all: conservatives, moderates, and liberals; black, white, Hispanic, or Asian; young or old; immigrant or DAR; Republicans, Democrats, libertarians; gay or straight. WCS year by year has been about building a coalition of all ages, all colors, and all backgrounds, devoted to reviving liberty and sharing Judeo-Christian truth and love.”
Liberals in particular have voiced criticism of the summit’s move, though many claim a profound lack of surprise.
The Conservative Summit disinvited Log Cabin Republicans from attending. Thats not the shocking part. The shocking part is they're surprised
— m a t t (@mcoop) April 16, 2015
Hey Log Cabin Republicans! Stop being so goddamn self hating. And stop voting for Republians because they hate your crazy asses.
— Oliver Collier (@librarybrother) April 16, 2015
Others have been more complimentary of Log Cabin’s efforts.
https://twitter.com/BillFrezza/status/588036887476056064
Potential presidential candidate and current Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is currently slated to speak at the event.
Illustration by Max Fleishman